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I remember the days when the announcement of a movie adaptation of things I loved was a positive thing. I didn’t need the live action version. Animated was fine. The theatrical film was the BIG story, the one too big for the small screen. Or a sequel to a movie I already liked. People loved hearing that Star Wars was getting a third movie, or a new trilogy that filled in the lore officially. We didn’t know if it would be good but if they worked hard on it, and we knew the right people were involved or returning, we had high hopes.
Hope has gone to die in today’s Hollywood.
Not for lack of trying. I see people so sure that THIS movie will be where they get it, right, where they realized their mistakes from before and this time they’re going to make what the fans want, something true to the source material. And then they’re disappointed again when the new movie or streaming show is just as bad as the last one, still pushing some agenda above the story whether it’s sociopolitical or just someone pushing their own tastes into something they clearly hate and taking out what the fans love because they’re so sure they’ll like “my” version better…and then throw a fit when they don’t.
I wish I could be excited for things like I used to, but I can’t. I’ve been hurt too many times and I can easily point to all the problems…problems I don’t see changing anytime soon.
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I could use an assistant like that.
Executive Assistant Iris Preview
Aspen MLT (April, 2011–digital copy)
WRITERS: David Wohl (script) & Brad Foxhoven, co-creators with Michael Turner
ARTISTS: Eduardo Francisco & Jason Gorder
COLORIST: John Starr
LETTERER: Josh Reed
This is an eight page preview, but I’m a little short on time this week so I’m running with it. Rather than a full review I’ll be judging it as a preview comic.
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Someone has to stand up for these characters.
There are right and wrong ways to do the sidekick or “mascot” character. For me if the character contributes something important to the team and not just comedy I can totally accept them. Some people absolutely hate these kinds of characters and will tell you that they hated them as a kid and all kids hated them as kids.
They are wrong. I can’t say for certain that he’s lying. The video we’ll be picking apart is called “12 of the WORST TV Sidekicks WE Love to HATE but Secretly Loved”, though I don’t know if “The BEST Classic 80s TV Sidekicks” is part of a series name like the ones I do on this site or meant to be part of this video’s title alone. However, seeing little love for most of the characters, including the usual targets, I had to come in for defense. To be fair, the host of The GEN Xperience does defend a couple but if this were a stronger defense I would just make it a daily video and call it a day, not part of an unofficial article series where I beg to disagree. I also can’t defend every character on this list because a couple were for shows I didn’t really watch and one I actually agree with him on. Look, I can defend mascot sidekicks and even I have my limits. Given what I defend on this list that might surprise you.
Of course all of these characters come from 1980s productions, or in one case a show we could watch in 1980s through reruns but whose first season was in 1979. As an 80s kid myself (born in 1973–yes I am that old–but really didn’t pay attention until practically 1980) I have different memories of these characters and more fondness than he does, even on the ones that are indeed loved to be hated by other “more mature” people. Me? Disagree with the internet? Surely you jest. Watch the video for context (18:49 runtime plus whenever YouTube shoves ads in there), then read my thoughts.
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“I shouldn’t have had the last five chilli dogs.”
Sonic The Hedgehog #88
Archie Comics Publications (November, 2000)
“Family Matters” & “Picking Up The Pieces”
WRITER: Karl Bollers
PENCILER: Fry
INKER: Andrew Pepoy
COLORIST: Frank Gagliardo
LETTERER: Jeff Powell/LIP
EDITOR: J.F. Gabrie
Only the first story has credits so I assume they did both the main and back-up tales. I’m reviewing both stories together because of that and because part of the first story leads into the second. Besides, at this point I’m used to multiple storylines going on at the same time like some attempt at emulating soap operas. The summaries will be in separate paragraphs, though.
BW Media Spotlight 