"The Ugly Quackling" (Chip the Seal) is ridiculed by his oldest sibling (Catnip) and misunderstood by his mother (Fangora). He's clumsy and a little goofy, but in the end, he's the one who saves them from the hungry wolf (Grinder) who spends a year chasing them. "Grinder Genie and the Magic Lamp" grants wishes for poor Middle Eastern kids Kitty and Sam, giving them enough money to pay off Sultana Catnip's taxes. She tries to steal the lamp, only to discover why Grinder's lamp says "make wishes at your own risk."
Switched to Buzzr next. Caught the tail end of one Supermarket Sweep episode, then a full one. Alas, both ended with teams who did wildly well at the Big Sweep, only to just miss figuring out the right answer on the final clue in the Bonus Round.
Press Your Luck and Classic Concentration were a lot more fun. Buzzr continued its Back to School Week with episodes featuring college students as contestants. The one boy in Press Your Luck Whammied out early in the second round. It was one of the two girls who ended up taking home over $12,000 in prizes, including a Windjammer Caribbean cruise. The boy on the Classic Concentration College Week dominated his game, winning, among many other prizes a trip to Paris. He didn't do quite as well on the match-the-car bonus round.
Hurried out for a quick grocery store run next. I didn't really need a whole lot anyway. Cascadian Farms granola bars were buy one, get one at Sprouts. Poppi soda was buy one, get one half-off. Got both, along with coconut milk, dried mango slices, and more of those cherry shortbread cookies from the bakery that were super-cheap. Mostly needed yogurt and soda at the Acme, both of which were on decent sales with online coupons. Also picked up granola, found a bottle of the Listerine Clinical Solutions Gum Therapy mouthwash with a two-dollar-off coupon and boxes of Watermelon Propel single mixes that were half-price, and dug out two more 20 ounce bottles of Fresca. Neither store was remotely busy, though I did go in the regular line at the Acme so the cashier could handle the coupon.
Cut across Newton Lake Park on the way home. It was certainly a lovely day for it. The weather remains perfect here, breezy, dry, and cool but not cold. I was surprised I didn't run into more people in the park. The Westmont Plaza was inundated with teenagers looking for lattes and something to do. I pushed my bike on the dirt path over the hill by the Environmental Center, enjoying the wind rustling through the dark green leaves.
When I got home, I put everything away, then had lunch while watching She-Ra and the Princesses of Power. Catra is tired of getting mixed "Signals" from Hordak, who is frustrated with her lack of progress. She's even more upset when Entraptra manages to fix the machine he was working on and gains his trust. Meanwhile, Bow, Adora, and Gilmmer investigate a supposedly haunted village that used to be one of the top suppliers of goods for the Rebels. The village is empty when they arrive, and they see ghostly images that make their imaginations run wild and leaves them wondering how the Old Ones' technology managed to conjure ghosts.
Spent the rest of the afternoon working on Hilary and the Beasts. Mrs. Fox may be a full animal, but she still knows to bring along the rest of the household to help her attack Pavla and her monsters. (Except for Mr. Cat, who takes a nap on top of the grand piano in the ballroom.) Hilary is shocked to discover that producer T.J Hunnicut is now a monster, but his new form hasn't dulled his wolfish instincts. It takes Troll clawing his back to get him off Hilary's lap.
Pavla has Hilary on the ground and is about to attack her when they hear Pavla's voice, repeating the words from her supposed interview with producer Trevor Zanish in "Mr. and Mrs. Singer." Maple reveals that Pavla's confession is on the last, unheard record. Betty reads Newspaper (Gus Kahana), adding that Trevor Zanish had been producing in England for the last two years. Not only that, but Victor Comstock and Mr. Foley let the record run, revealing that Pavla had a drunk Scott kidnapped and used as leverage to force Jeff into marriage and Victor and Foley into silence.
While Hilary brings Mackie around and gets him and Foley to let the cops and the FBI in, Maple runs to the caged Eagle. Hilary manages to retrieve the keys to the cage from Pavla's bosom and toss them to her waiting middle sister. She releases the affectionate bird, giving him a kiss and telling him that she loves him no matter how many feathers he has. Betty is also able to get the muzzle and ropes off Bear. She holds his paw on the story he wrote her, telling her that she understood he was trying to tell her the truth, and that she too didn't care how smart he was or how much fur he had, she still loved him.
Mr. Rabbit trots up to the silent Miss Organ, lovingly rubbing her and licking her side. Hilary too finally throws herself into Troll's waiting arms, breathlessly telling him as the last bong strikes at midnight that she loves him and wants to marry him, no matter what he looks like.
That does it. No sooner does Hilary tell Troll her feelings than the entire household is engulfed in a bright golden light. When it subsides, Puppy is teen maid Enid Farlleigh, who sits on a normal man rather than a monster. Eugenia, now released from her organ, gives her fiance Mr. Foley a big hug. Gus Kahana, freed from the newspaper, is able to use John McCormick's Irish brogue to explain to the cops that he's willing to state evidence. Mrs. Fox turns into Gertie Reece, who manages to wake up Mr. Eldridge just as the light ends.
Yes, Eagle is Jeff's gentle-voiced, sad-eyed secretary Victor Comstock. He admits to Maple that he can't really fly - Scott's the pilot - but he would still love to take her out on an airplane. Maple grabs him so passionately, she knocks them to the ground. Bear's fur falls away to reveal a battered but grinning Scott Sherwood, who wants nothing more than to keep writing stories with Betty. Troll is, indeed Jeff Singer, who also kisses his soon-to-be-wife passionately before she reminds him they have an audience.
Watched The Singing, Ringing Tree as I worked. This East German fairy tale from 1957 also involves a prince-turned-bear and a haughty lady. In this case, the prince traded his own humanity to a devilish little figure to get the title tree and impress a spoiled princess. The princess wasn't impressed, with him or anything but her own beauty. The nasty little imp turned the Prince into a bear and his horse to stone. He brings the Princess back to his enchanted grotto, where she is turned ugly until she learns to be kind to not only the animals in the grotto, but Bear as well. The copy currently on Tubi has very British narration added.
Headed out around 5:30 on my bike. Not only was today Oaklyn's Final Friday block party, but the newest business in town finally opened. The Score Records replaced the healthy smoothie and milkshake shop in the store on the corner of West Clinton and Manor Ave, across from the Manor Bar. They weren't big and didn't have nearly the selection that Phidelity or Innergroove do, but they also had smattering of CDs, books, and cassettes, along with t-shirts, stickers, and strange boxes covered in recycled objects painted in rainbow colors. They were also extremely busy, but I did manage to pick up two records:
The Beach Boys - Shut Down Volume 2
Oscar Peterson Plays the Irving Berlin Songbook
And two CDs:
Dave Bruebeck - Vocal Encounters and Ballads
Final Friday was busier than ever with people celebrating the last Friday of the summer and the start of Labor Day Weekend. I strolled around, taking in the food trucks specializing in Mac and cheese, lobster rolls, barbecue, Mexican food, or spring rolls stuffed with cheese steak meat, but couldn't decide what to eat. I eventually ended up at a quiet Common Grounds. The turkey, brie, and honey turnover wasn't bad. I didn't realize the iced hot chocolate was a coffee drink. I was thirsty and did end up drinking it all down, but it left a bitter taste in my mouth.
Combated that with a nice, refreshing cream popcickle. I've seen the cart with the organic cream and popsicles here and the Collingwood Farm Market, but I never got the chance to try it until tonight. Oh yum. I went with cherry vanilla. Sweet, cherry - and very cold, which I badly needed after walking around in those crowds.
Put on Match Game Syndicated when I got home. Nighttime soap star Susan Howard joined David Doyle and Marcia Wallace here. Marcia points out that she's sharper than most usually gives her credit for when she's the only one to get an answer right.
Finished the night with three of my new record and CD finds and one I picked up last week. The big hits on Shut Down, Volume II are "Don't Worry, Baby," "Fun, Fun, Fun," and "The Warmth of the Sun." I liked the hilarious tracks that didn't involve music at all. "Denny's Drum" and "Cassius Love Vs. Sonny Wilson" are just presumably banter between the Beach Boys in the studio, and they're hilarious. We also get their admonishment to "Keep an Eye On Summer."
It's the Girls is Bette Midler's 2014 tribute to girl groups. We mostly get famous girl vocalists from the 50's and 60's, with hits like "Be My Baby," "One Fine Day," and "Too Many Fish In the Sea." TLC's "Waterfalls" turns into an oddly tender ballad here, but the Boswell Sisters' "It's the Girl" remains a rollicking romp.
Vocal Encounters is Dave Brubeck's songs featuring singers and lyrics, including rare lyrics to "Take Five," performed by Carmen MacRae. MacRae also scores with "Travelin' Blues" and "It's a Raggy Waltz," while Tony Bennet gives us "That Old Black Magic" and Peter, Paul, and Mary the folk ballad "Because All Men are Brothers," based on Bach's "Passion" chorale. The lovely Louis Armstrong "Summer Song" also turns up on the Ballads CD collection. Most of these are more traditional instrumentals like "Stardust" and "Lost Waltz," but we also get "Weep No More."
No comments:
Post a Comment