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Tag Archives: 2010s

August 17

August 17, 2010 – The Sitcom Melissa & Joey Premieres on ABC Family

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“No we don’t. The urge to set things on fire – we repress.”

On August 17, 2010, the sitcom Melissa & Joey premiered on ABC Family. The story is about Mel Burke, a former wild child turned local politician, who has to take care of her niece and nephew after her brother-in-law and sister are thrown in federal prison. Mel reluctantly hires Joe, a former commodities trader, to become the live-in nanny. The show has received great ratings in its timeslot, and as of this date, has been renewed for a fourth season. The series was created by David Kendall and Bob Young. It stars Melissa Joan Hart as Mel Burke, Joey Lawrence as Joe Longo, Taylor Spreitler as Lennox, and Nick Robinson as Ryder.

The episode begins with Councilperson Mel Burke preparing for a night on the town while watching an earlier press conference. Someone in the conference starts demanding their money back from her brother-in-law, but she coolly shuts him down, with her assistant Rhonda telling her that she “smelled of authority.” Their celebration is cut short when Mel’s niece Lennox asks why angry white men are throwing trash on their lawn. Mel is trying to reach out to her niece, but Lennox is rather reluctant, as is Lennox’s brother Ryder, who expresses his anger in not-so-healthy ways. On Mel’s way out, she and Rhonda get phone calls about Lennox, with Lennox getting suspended. Mel goes to confront Lennox, and Lennox acts rather flippant about the entire thing. Suddenly, the doorbell rings, and Mel runs to meet her date, but meets the man from the press conference instead. He apologizes for interrupting her press conference, but once again asks where her brother-in-law is. Her date arrives, and she pushes the guy away. She then tells her date that, with everything going on, she just can’t go.

Joe tries to convince Mel to give him the job of taking care of her niece and nephew

Joe tries to convince Mel to give him the job of taking care of her niece and nephew

The next day, Mel gets ready for work, when the guy shows back once again. He’s gone through the entire budget and has figured out how to get money for the smaller class sizes and garbage pick-up, and introduces himself as Joe Longo. She is surprised to find out who he is, as he was a commodities trader that helped make her brother-in-law millions, before he lost his job thanks to her brother-in-law’s schemes. He asks for a job, but she says there’s a hiring freeze in the government. He spies her request for a nanny, and asks for the job. He ends up weaseling his way into the job regardless of Mel’s protests, and she rushes off to the job. When she gets home, she finds Joe doing the laundry, and Ryder home working on his homework. Lennox is also missing, even though she should be heading to school to apologize to the principal. Joe finds Lennox on the roof after she posts something on social media, and talks to her. She admits that she’s tired of life being unfair, and he convinces her to at least trust her aunt.

Mel heads down to Lennox’s school, and the principal accuses Mel of being an unfit parent. Lennox interrupts her and apologizes for being late, and then apologizes for her actions. At home that night, Joe helps Ryder with his free throws while waiting for Mel to come home. Mel is still uncertain about Joe being the nanny, as he has several interesting methods of getting to her niece and nephew. After talking with him, she is starting to be convinced that he is the right person for the job, although he is rather hurt when he finds that she’s already hired another nanny, as he thinks that she didn’t believe in him. Mel decides to hire him full-time, taking a chance on him after everything that happened that day.

August 5

August 5, 2011 – The Disney Channel Original Movie Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension Premieres

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“One minute we were innocently launching ourselves across the city in a badminton platypult. The next thing we know, we’re bouncing on up to the eastside to your deluxe apartment in the sky.”

On August 5, 2011, the Disney Channel Original Movie Phineas and Ferb the Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension premiered. The film is the first full-length feature for the series, and the fourth animated DCOM. It averaged 7.6 million viewers on its premiere, as well as garnering many positive reviews from critics. The film was written by Dan Povenmire, Jeff “Swampy” Marsh, and Jon Colton Barry, and was directed by Povenmire and Robert Hughes. It starred Vincent Martella as Phineas, Thomas Sangster as Ferb, Ashley Tisdale as Candace, Dee Bradley Baker as Perry, and Dan Povenmire as Doofenshmirtz.

The movie begins in with Phineas, with Ferb and Dr. Doofenshmirtz, musing about their precarious situation and how their day began so well. The scene then moves to earlier that day, where Ferb and Phineas are waking up on a sunny summer day. Phineas and Ferb begin their day with their pet platypus Perry, with a song celebrating their pet, since it’s been five years since they’ve owned Perry. Meanwhile Candace, having just gotten off the phone with her boyfriend Jeremy, starts lamenting about his going away to college soon. In the backyard, friends Isabella, Baljeet, and Buford arrive and they create two large platypus contraptions before they realize Perry is missing. Perry is off on his secret agent mission, where he is warned that should his cover be blown, he will have to transfer families. His boss, Major Monogram, informs him that they have created several duplicates of Dr. Doofenshmirtz’s inventions, and gives Perry the assignment of destroying the new invention before Doofenshmirtz can finish it. He is given several inventions to help in his mission, including a hologram and a super magnet.

Candace decides to put away her childish things, as she wants to be seen as an adult

Candace decides to put away her childish things, as she wants to be seen as an adult

Candace’s best friend Stacy arrives at the house to find Candace packing away all of her “childish” things, as Candace wants to be seen as more of an adult. She realizes that she doesn’t need to bust her brothers to her parents anymore, as she can, as an adult, bust them herself. The boys’ invention is ready to start, and they are flown across the town in a giant badminton birdie. Candace then heads to the park to bust them, while the boys crash into Doofenshmirtz’s invention, destroying it. When they hear what Doofenshmirtz’s invention was, they offer to help repair the machine. However, when they near completion, Perry appears, but has to pretend he’s not a secret agent once he sees Phineas and Ferb. Although he tries to prevent them from finishing the machine without blowing his cover, he is unsuccessful, and the machine shows another dimension. Once they enter the other dimension, they boys discover that Doofenshmirtz is actually a super-villain in the other dimension, and rules the tri-state area.

Doofenshmirtz is soon whisked away to meet his other-dimensional self, and the two bond rather quickly. Perry is rather worried about this turn of events while exploring the other dimension, especially when 2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz reveals that Perry is really a secret agent, and shows off 2nd Dimension Perry, who is Doofenshmirtz’s cyborg servant. To protect the boys, Perry reveals his identity as a secret agent. Phineas is angry about Perry’s deception, even while they are pursued by Cyborg Perry. Perry dukes it out with Cyborg Perry, but the boys and Perry are able to escape. Unable to get back to their dimension, they decide to go find their 2nd dimensional selves. Meanwhile, Doofenshmirtz learns from his other self about how he was able to take over the tri-state area, and the 2nd Dimensional Doofenshmirtz decides to take over the other dimension’s tri-state area. Candace, in the original dimension, is still trying to find out where her brothers are, and heads back to her backyard.

Phineas and Ferb meet their 2nd Dimension selves, and are surprised to find there is no such thing as summer

Phineas and Ferb meet their 2nd Dimension selves, and are surprised to find there is no such thing as summer

Phineas and Ferb find their other-dimensional house, with the situation still tense between Phineas and Perry. They find their other selves, and find that the other Perry has disappeared. They are also surprised to find that summer has been outlawed, and are ready to explain what the season is. While Phineas explains, Perry rushes off to stop Doofenshmirtz, but is discovered by Phineas, who angrily tells him to go. Both sets of boys are captured by the resistance, which includes Isabella and the Fireside Girls, who attempt to help Phineas and Ferb get back to their dimension. They soon find that the leader of the resistance is none other than Candace. In the first dimension, Candace and Stacy discover the portal to the other dimension, and while Phineas and Ferb attempt to go home, they find that Perry has been captured. They decide to go after Perry instead, but not before Candace enters the 2nd Dimension. They all head to Doofenshmirtz’s lab, and Candace has an interesting conversation with the other Candace, finding that 2nd Dimension Candace had to grow up quickly to protect her brothers.

Unfortunately, the group has stumbled onto a trap, and are captured by the Doofenshmirtz pair. Perry is able to help them escape thanks to a hologram of Major Monocle, who was in the shower at the time. 2nd Dimension Candace fights the following robots with ease, but the real problem occurs when Cyborg Perry appears. In a last ditch effort, 2nd Dimension Candace saves the 2nd Dimension team members, leaving the other dimension Candace, Phineas, Ferb, and Perry to fend for themselves. Captured once again, Phineas is ordered to fix Doofenshmirtz’s dimension machine, but he refuses. However, Doofenshmirtz is able to fix it himself, and the group is given to Cyborg Perry to be destroyed, including the original dimension Doofenshmirtz. As the group is led to their doom, Perry uses his high powered magnet to get the keys to their chains and hijack one of the robots. As they try to escape their doom, they find themselves handing precariously over a pit of lava. More guards are sent to kill them, but they are soon surprised to find themselves saved by 2nd Dimension Candace. She hands Phineas the dimension remote, and he activates it, with the group falling into another dimension.

2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz orders his robots after the original dimension group

2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz orders his robots after the original dimension group

2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz orders his robots to go after the group, but they are still able to capture 2nd Dimension Candace. A chase ensues through dimensions, and they are finally able to find their own dimension. Unfortunately, 2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz finds his way into the original dimension as well, and unleashes his robot army across the tri-state area. Phineas and Ferb try to go with Perry to help him save their dimension, but Perry refuses to let them go along. Meanwhile, 2nd Dimension Candace is rescued by 2nd Dimension Jeremy, Phineas, and Ferb, and they realize this is their chance to stop Doofenshmirtz’s evil reign. While they head home, Phineas and Ferb realize that Perry has given them the key they need to access his secret lair and assist him after all. When the lab is activated, all of their old inventions are also replicated, and the two set to work to help Perry. Perry tries to hold off the robots the best he can, and is soon saved by Phineas and Ferb. Phineas and Perry make up, and the gang quickly works together to stop Doofenshmirtz, which is musically accompanied by Love Handel.

Phineas and Perry head off to close the portal, with Perry doing battle with his Cyborg self. Candace gets an idea to get her mom and try and bust her brothers, as she realizes that the trouble will disappear the moment their mom appears. Ferb rushes to help Phineas, and Phineas realizes he just needs to destroy the dish on the machine, as it controls the robots. Perry is able to stop his Cyborg self, and heads off to save Phineas, who is then able to destroy the dish. The robot army is completely disabled, but Doofenshmirtz has one last robot up his sleeve. However, original dimension Doofenshmirtz is able to stop 2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz, and all the robots are destroyed. 2nd Dimension Doofenshmirtz heads back to his dimension, where he is arrested the moment he gets back. Everything goes back to normal, and each group heads back to their proper dimension. Unfortunately, Perry is to be reassigned now that his cover has been blown, but after using one of Doofenshmirtz’s Amnesia-inator, they forget the whole thing every happened so they can keep Perry in the family and forget that he’s a secret agent. The only person that remembers anything is Perry, who keeps a camera full of photos of the day.

July 23

July 23, 2013 – The ABC Family Game Show Spell-Mageddon Premieres

SpellMageddon

“…the funniest, sloppiest, and most painful word game you’ve ever seen!”

On July 23, 2013, the new ABC family game show Spell-Mageddon premiered. The game show took the idea of a traditional spelling bee and ramped it up, with contestants having to spell words while going through various obstacles. The show only lasted eight episodes before it was cancelled. It was hosted by Alfonso Ribeiro, and created by Thinkfactory Media. The last episode premiered on September 11, 2013.

July 15

July 15, 2011 – The Animated Short Film The Ballad of Nessie Premieres in Theaters

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“In the bonny blue highlands where the bagpipes play lives a creature called Nessie, but it wasn’t always this way.”

On July 15, the animated short film The Ballad of Nessie was released to theaters alongside the animated feature film Winnie the Pooh. The short features a tribute to famed animator Glen Keane, which is the name of the glen where Nessie once lived. It was written by Regina Conroy, Stevie Wermers-Skelton, and Kevin Deters, and directed by Wermers-Skelton and Deters. The short was narrated by Billy Connolly. It was nominated for an Annie Award for Best Short Subject, but lost to Minkyu Lee’s Adam and Dog.

The narrator introduces the audience to Nessie, a shy creature who used to live on the moors of Glen Keane. Although considered a monster, she had “no bark and no bite,” and lived with her best friend, a rubber duck named McQuack. One day, a developer named Tycoon MacFroogle arrives. He wishes to turn the moor into a mini golf course, which he quickly does, driving Nessie out of her home. A nearby seagull tells her to keep a stiff upper lip, and she decides to pack her things and find a new pond to live. She searches high and low, but can’t find anything suitable, and is always told not to cry. Finally, tired of fining nothing, she lets all her tears out, crying a literal flood of tears for weeks. After she finished crying, she noticed that she cried a great lake, and leaps out for joy, having found her new home. The narrator points out the important lesson: don’t be afraid to cry, as “sometimes it’s through our tears we find a better way.” Nessie is still in Loch Ness, and still playing hide and seek with McQuack. Meanwhile, MacFroogle is seen weeping in despair, as Nessie’s tears have completely destroyed his mini-golf park.

June 24

June 24, 2011 – The Pixar Short Film Hawaiian Vacation is Released to Theaters

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“Eh, I should have seen this coming.”

On June 24, 2011, the Pixar short film Hawaiian Vacation was released to theaters alongside the full-length animated feature Cars 2. The short is part of the Toy Story Toons series which includes the characters from the hit Toy Story franchise in an all-new adventure; it was filmed in CinemaScope and was released in 3D and IMAX versions. It was directed by Gary Rydstrom, and features the voice talents of Jodi Benson as Barbie, Michael Keaton as Ken, Tom Hanks as Woody, Tim Allen as Buzz Lightyear, Joan Cusack as Jessie, Don Rickles as Mr. Potato Head, Estelle Harris as Mrs. Potato Head, Wallace Shawn as Rex, and John Ratzenberger as Hamm.

The short begins at the beginning of Bonnie’s winter break, and Woody has called a meeting with the toys to discuss what will happen when Bonnie flies off to Hawaii. Everyone lays out their vacation plans: Trixie and Rex have set up profiles for an online role playing game; Buttercup, Hamm, and Chuckles are playing cards; Mr. and Mrs. Potato Head are spending the week together (although Mr. Potato Head makes sure he can still play cards with the trio); and the aliens audition for Mr. Pricklepants’ new show. Bonnie soon arrives back in her room, grabs her suitcase, and quickly departs. Unfortunately, she left behind her backpack, where Barbie and Ken were stowed away, hoping to go to Hawaii. They actually think they’re in Hawaii, and think Woody and the gang have joined them there. When Woody breaks the news to Ken and Barbie that they’re in Bonnie’s bedroom, Ken does not take the news well.

Ken looks out the window in despair as Bonnie heads off to Hawaii without him and Barbie

Ken looks out the window in despair as Bonnie heads off to Hawaii without him and Barbie

Barbie lets the others know that Ken had spent months planning this vacation, including where they would have their very first kiss, although Ken doesn’t know that she knows. Woody is touched by Ken’s surprise for Barbie, and decides to help them have the perfect “Hawaii vacation” in Bonnie’s bedroom. Every toy plays a part in the plan (which includes the return of Spanish Buzz). When it comes time for the kiss, Woody and the gang sets up the beach for the pair, but Barbie decides to take Ken outside in the snow. The two walk off together, and fall off the deck into the snow. There’s a moment of silence before Hamm declares that he’ll go get the shovel.

June 18

June 18, 2010 – The Pixar Short Film Day & Night Premieres in Theaters

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“They are afraid of new ideas…they are loaded with prejudices not based upon anything in reality, but based on ‘if something is new, I reject it immediately because it’s frightening to me.’”

On June 18, 2010, the Pixar short film Day & Night premiered in theaters before the full-length feature film Toy Story 3. It was written and directed by Teddy Newton, and was nominated for an Academy Award, but lost to Andrew Ruhemann and Shaun Tan’s The Lost Thing.

The film begins on a farm scene, displayed in the form of a man, representing Day. He comes across Night, who is sound asleep, and is astounded to discover that when he steps in front of Night, he shows the same area, but how it looks in the daytime. Day pokes night awake, and the two study each other suspiciously. Day then continues on his way happily, but Night follows him to show off his night scene. The two get in an argument, which has an affect on the nature inside them. Finally, the two realize that they both have create beauty in their own respective times of day, and the two start dancing together. Night hears a radio station play in Day, and the two listen to the host talk about prejudice. The two realize that they both misjudged each other based on fear, and the two decide to become friends before they realize that they’ve switched roles. Eagerly awaiting what’s in store, the two link arms and go off together.

June 15

June 15, 2012 – Cars Land Opens in Disney’s California Adventure

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“Zoom through the desert landscape of Cars Land, inspired by the Disney-Pixar movie Cars.”

On June 15, 2012, the themed expansion area of Disney’s California Adventure, Cars Land, opened. Designed to resemble Radiator Springs from the hit Disney-Pixar Movie, the 12-acre area features several attractions and dining options. One attraction, Radiator Springs Racers, takes guests through the area, letting them view all parts of Radiator Springs while racing against each other. Highlights include Luigi’s Flying Tires (similar to the Flying Saucers attraction from the early days of Disneyland), Mater’s Junkyard Jamboree, and Flo’s V8 Café.

June 13

June 13, 2011 – The Disney X D Original Series Kickin’ It Premieres

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“That was the most incredible thing I’ve seen in my entire life – and I’ve been to the Ice Capades!”

On June 13, 2011, the Disney X D Original Series Kickin’ It premiered. It was based on creator Jim O’Doherty’s childhood experiences with karate, as well as his daughters’ interest in the martial arts. The show, originally called Wasabi Warriors, was the highest rated series premiere in the channel’s history, and is the first Disney X D series to run past three seasons. As of this date, the show has 73 episodes. It stars Leo Howard as Jack Brewer, Dylan Riley Snyder as Milton Krupnick, Mateo Arias as Jerry Martinez, Olivia Holt as Kim Crawford, Alex Christian Jones as Eddie Jones, and Jason Earles as Rudy Gillespie.

The first episode, “Wasabi Warriors,” begins at Seaford High School, where new student Jack meets student Kim in the cafeteria, and is then invited to sit with a bunch of kids that do karate together after school, and are bullied by kids from another karate dojo. Jack stands up for them with some hidden karate skills of his own, leaving everyone in the cafeteria impressed. He quickly flees the scene after the fight. After school, the kids gather at the Bobby Wasabi martial arts dojo, where owner Rudy is given the bad news that he is in danger of being closed down, unless his students win two belts at the next meet. The kids recommend that Rudy bring Jack in as a member, but Rudy is unconvinced. Meanwhile, Jack heads through the mall on his skateboard, and is chased by mall police, where he ends up crashing into the dojo. As he tries to leave, he is arrested by mall police, but Rudy, who is impressed by Jack’s skills as he tried to escape, makes a deal with the kid: help Bobby Wasabi Dojo win two belts, and he’ll makes sure Jack doesn’t go to juvie. Jack agrees.

After facing trouble with the mall cops, Jack decides to join the Bobby Wasabi dojo

After facing trouble with the mall cops, Jack decides to join the Bobby Wasabi dojo

Later, when Jack is hanging out with the guys from the dojo, Kim stops by and asks to speak with Jack alone. Kim tells him that he should be at the best dojo in town: the Black Dragon dojo. She takes him there and shows off her black belt. The owner of the Black Dragons tries to get Jack to join them, but Jack refuses, as he gave his word already to Bobby Wasabi. When Rudy finds out that Jack even went to the Black Dragons, he gets angry and lets it slip that Jack was never going to go to juvie, but be banned from the mall for two weeks. Jack is furious, and decides to join the Black Dragons. He stops by the next day to pick up his things, and discovers that the dojo is closing. As the students say their farewells, Jack has a change of heart and decides to show the kids that they really can do karate, and will help them keep the gym open.

At the next advancement tournament, the Wasabi Warriors are ready to get their belts, with Eddie going first against a giant of a guy. Jack gives him a pep talk, telling Eddie to use his anger that has built up since Marge the Lunch Lady started kicking him around. Eddie is able to earn his first belt for the gym. Jerry is up next using nun-chucks, but accidentally hits himself in the groin and loses. Milton is up next, and needs to break more boards than his opponent. Milton is able to break two boards at once, and wins the dojo’s second belt, but the belt is taken away from him when he starts beating up a member of the Black Dragons, one of his bullies. It’s then Jack versus Kim, but one of the Black Dragons hurts Jack’s leg to cause him to lose. When Kim finds out that the Black Dragons cheated, she quits. Jack tries to win the belt for the dojo, as he wants to help his friends. Jack is able to win the belt, and Bobby Wasabi Dojo is saved. Later, Kim decides to join the Bobby Wasabi Dojo, telling them they need all the help they can get.

June 11

June 11, 2010 – The Nighttime Show World of Color Premieres in Disneyland’s California Adventure

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“Watch images of characters come to life on a veil of mist, while water forms fanciful shapes in time to memorable music.”

On June 11, 2010, the nighttime show World of Color premiered at Disneyland’s California Adventure park. The show takes place at Paradise Bay in the Paradise Pier area, and is an outdoor light and music extravaganza, with over 1,000 fountains shooting enough water to create a 19,000 square-foot screen, where 28 projectors display clips from classic Disney movies. Music plays in time with the projected clips, ranging from all across Disney film history. The show has become immensely popular, and is frequently updated for special events or holidays. Special “Glow with the Show” ear hats are also available for guests to purchase, and the ears glow to match the rhythm of the show.

June 6

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June 6, 2011 – The Pixar Short Film La Luna Premieres at the Annecy Film Festival

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On June 6, 2011, the Pixar short film La Luna premiered at the Annecy Film Festival, held in the town of Annecy, France. The short was then released on June 22, 2012, with the theatrical release of Brave. It was nominated for an Academy Award at the 84th Academy Awards, but lost to The Fantastic Flying Books of Mr. Morris Lessmore by William Joyce and Brandon Oldenburg. It was written and directed by Enrico Casaroa, and stars Krista Sheffler as Bambino, Tony Fucile as Papa, and Phil Sheridan as Nonno.

A young boy heads out to sea with his father and grandfather, when his grandfather gifts him a new hat. Bambino is excited, until Papa and Nonno get into an argument about how the boy should wear the hat. Papa wins, and Nonno angrily turns down the lantern, leaving the trio in the dark, waiting in the open water. Suddenly, the moon rises to the sky, and Bambino is given the anchor while his father pulls out a giant ladder. As Bambino reaches the top of the ladder, the moon’s gravitational pull pulls him onto its surface, where he is surprised to see that the moon is covered with glittering stars. He quickly hooks the anchor into a crater so Papa and Nonno can reach the moon. Bambino soon discovers that it’s their family’s job to sweep the stars from the moon’s surface and, once again, Papa and Nonno get into an argument about which broom is better to use. In the middle of the argument, a giant star hurtles toward the moon, and the family runs for cover.

The family stares at the giant star, unsure of how to remove it

The family stares at the giant star, unsure of how to remove it

After the giant star lands, the family looks with confusion, as they are unsure what to do. They try to pull the star out, but break every tool in the process. While Papa and Nonno continue to argue, Bambino gets an idea, and is soon scaling up the star. Reaching the peak, Bambino hits the top with a hammer, and the star breaks into many little stars. In the end, Papa and Nonno realize that Bambino has his own way of doing things, and they finish their job. In the end, they let the moon back into the sky, revealing that they have swept the stars to make the moon shine as a crescent moon.