My Piece of the Rock

Thaaaaaat's All, Folks

So I want to know what happened to all the great cartoons I grew up with. I'm not longing for the good old days because I hate change and anything new is awful. I'm longing for cartoons that look entertaining and make you laugh because they're funny, ha ha, not funny, bizarro.

We're on a group family vacation with my brother's family (2 kids, ages 3 and 5), my mom, and my family (3 kids, ages 7, 12 and 14), so I've had more of a chance to watch the cartoons my kids are watching because we're all in one space all the time together. They're rolling on the floor and doing recaps at dinner over Flapjack and Chowder, which appear to be some mutant mix of anime and classic Warner Brothers with a little Sponge Bob thrown in. I'm not a hip and happenin' mom, I admit, but I just don't get these shows. To me, they're not visually appealing, nor are they funny...they're just wacked...which maybe is an accurate reflection of my kids' humor gauge. They live in a wacked out world where 16-year-olds have their parents spend half a million dollars on a sweet sixteen party for them with it being broadcast on MTV's Sweet Sixteen if they're extra lucky. This same world alternately has Iran and North Korea and Pakistan and assorted other countries routinely threatening mass destruction in one form or another, as if it's not enough that global warming is going to either flood us all out or give us heatstroke on a daily basis. It's also a world where you can pay for a ride in a space shuttle (albeit pay a lot) and communicate instantly and endlessly with avatars representing people who may be on the other side of town or the other side of the planet, in this world and virtual ones, too. Wacked out!

Still, it seems to me that in light of all the impending doom and gloom, a little classic cartoon humor is just what the world needs. I think Cartoon Network and Nick should be running Porky Pig, Daffy Duck, Bugs and Elmer, Road Runner, the Pink Panther, Grape Ape, Hong Kong Phooey, Scooby Doo, the Flintstones and Huckleberry Hound, 24/7. Thaaaaaat's all, folks!

I'm Driving Down October Road!

After two posts helping a friend spread the word about the cancellation of the ABC show October Road and my admitting I'd never seen it except for the clips I found on YouTube, my Roadie friend Donna gave me the Season 1 dvd to watch. I set it aside, being down to the wire on finishing my first book manuscript which was due to my editor by June 1. On May 29, I mailed my manuscript, went to my son's graduation and started preparing for his party and our 9 day vacation.

Two days later, up late doing laundry and packing, I popped in the dvd, expecting to watch the pilot and then hit the sack. Sadly, I must admit, I stayed up til 2 in the morning and watched all 6 episodes. I about had a midnight fit when the first dvd ended and I didn't know there was a disk 2 in the box. I kept clicking on the scene selections, looking for more, finally giving up hope, I went to put the disk away and discovered number 2. Watched those shows and was hungry for more, but Donna only gave me season 1.  I don't even know if season 2 exists on dvd, but I'll have to find out because I'm hooked!

To help save/bring back this charming, feel good drama, you have a couple of options...

Visit www.youchoose.net/campaign/save_october_road and sign the e-petition. You can also "pay it forward" by donating a copy of the Season 1 (and 2???) dvd(s) to your local library or sending them overseas to a soldier.

You can visit www.heynielsen.com and vote for October Road.

Or, you can write ABC a letter at

ABC Studios

ATTN: Stephen McPherson, President Entertainment

500 S. Buena Vista Blvd.

Burbank, CA 91521-4551

Happy viewing!

 

October Road Backstory

Well, based on the hits and the very nice comments, the Roadies are a lovely bunch.  I thought they might be able to provide a bit of backstory on the show for those of us just tuning in.

I'm thinking that Donna told me the show is loosely based on the life of the guy who wrote the movie script for Beautiful Girls, but I never saw that movie so...Who are all these people?  I've been watching the YouTube clips and I have a cast of characters now:  Nick, Hannah, Janet, Eddie, Ikey, Ray/Big Cat, Sam, Aubrey...

The basic plot line seems to be that Nick lives in town, has a high school relationship with Hannah (that produces Sam) but leaves for NY, spends 10 years there, writes a book based on his hometown life that ticks off his old friends, which he discovers when he returns for a visit...but he ends up staying.  So what are the missing pieces?  How long has this show been on?  I thought it premiered last fall, but I'm seeing references to season 1 and season 2.

For the first 9 minutes of episode 1, click this link to YouTube.  I've no doubt I'll get answers to my questions, so if you're wanting to know more check back here. And don't forget to vote to save October Road and help stop tv from being taken over with quality shows like "SwingTown" that debuts in June. Yikes!

Save October Road -- Pay It Forward

I have to admit...I've seen the promos but I never watched the drama October Road that premiered last fall.  But I've got this friend who's gotten herself hooked and then some.  And when ABC announced they were going to cancel the show, Donna went into overdrive.  She and other Roadies (as they call themselves) started signing petitions and writing letters to ABC.  That led to a "Pay It Forward" campaign where devotees could purchase a Season 1 dvd and donate it to their local library in an effort to get more viewers.  Then Donna came up with the idea to pay it forward through Take a Soldier to the Movies where dvd's are sent overseas to our soldiers to watch (and then get passed on to other viewers).  What a great idea!

According to Donna, the Roadies' voices are getting louder and stronger. They've gotten more supporters and some attention in the press.  If you love this show or simply are into rooting for the underdog, check out this promo for October Road and then add your vote to the petition (above) or buy a copy of October Road Season 1 to give to your library or our soldiers overseas.  It's the little things in life that count!  Pay it forward:)