"Where Are They Now?" Wednesdays: Kenan and Kel

Whoooo loves orange soda? Kel loves orange soda! Back in the day, before all this TEENick stuff, we had Snick aka Saturday Night Nick. One of the more popular shows was called Kenan & Kel featuring Kenan Thompson and Kel Mitchell. It basically followed the misadventures of these two pals.

Both Kenan and Kel found their start on another Snick classic, All That. The two became standout stars in  sketches like GoodBurger. They were such a hit that Nickelodeon gave them their own show, and even a GoodBurger movie! (Welcome to GoodBurger home of the GoodBurger. May I take your order?) I think the classic everyone remembers is Kel's song "I'm Dude."

Eventually the show ended along with the 90s and most of the Snick line-up. Since then, the pair split off and went their separate ways.

Kenan has been the more successful of the two. After a brief hiatus and work in minor roles, he regained some stardom when he played Fat Albert in the movie of the same name. Shortly thereafter, he became a cast member of SNL. I'd hardly call him a standout cast member on the show, but he does have some pretty good recurring characters. It's fun seeing him going back to his sketch comedy roots. It's like a flashback to those All That days. I can remember sitting in front of the TV staying up "late" on a Saturday night in order to watch the latest episode. Now my "bedtime" isn't an issue, but I'll admit I rarely make it past weekend update.

Where were we? Oh right. The other guy. Kel. Yeah...he hasn't had much success since then. He's been out of the limelight so long that people actually thought he was dead. Sort of rings a bell doesn't it? According to IMdB, he's still acting. However, I don't see any titles I recognize as I browse his filmography list. It's kind of embarrassing and sad.

I'd love to see a reunion of these two on SNL one day. What about you?

Memory Mondays: Musicals!

Little Courtney and Dad!
Beauty & The Beast: Precursor to my love of theatre

*insert cliche opening about musical theatre here* "There's no business like show business! Like no business I know. Nowhere can you get that happy feeling when you are stealing that extra bow."

 Ok now that I've gotten that out of my system, it's on with the show! Musical theatre has always been a huge part of my life. I grew up on the Disney VHS tapes filled with plenty of songs and splendor. That love of story through song quickly moved over to full musical theatre productions.

I really have to thank my dad for that. My Dad took me to my first "legit" touring production when I was six. Beauty and the Beast was in town at the now defunct Mechanic Theatre in Baltimore. However, I told my Art teacher, "I'm seeing a show on Broadway tonight." My little brain did not yet realize Broadway is a place, not a concept of live theatre. I remember dressing up in my finest attire and heading downtown for the big show.  We sat in our mezzanine seats, and from the moment that the curtain rose, I was hooked. My favorite movie came alive right before my eyes. It was way better than any 3-D movie re-release.

A few years later, I moved on from the disney corporation generated musicals to the more classic musicals of the "Golden Age." My first was The Music Man. I again can thank my Dad for that. I remember coming down the stairs one evening because I couldn't sleep. My Dad and StepMom had just begun to watch The Music Man. They allowed me to stay downstairs, and I was once again enamored with what I saw on screen: the sweet songs, the big dance numbers, and the beautiful love story. Shortly thereafter, The Music Man came into town, and we went and saw it. I was probably the only eight year old in the theatre.

My collection of Playbills!
The Music Man was the first one I saved

I believe my next musical obsession was the movie version of Chicago. My Dad told me about it, and I thought it sounded pretty cool. I mean come on, a murder plot, snazzy songs, and all that jazz? I probably shouldn't have seen it when I was only ten years old but whatever. I absolutely loved it, and I even begged my Dad to take me to see it again. When the soundtrack came out, I wore that CD into the ground. I could probably still recite every line for you.

That next summer my parents enrolled me in theatre camp. There I really found my love of the stage. I had been enrolled in dance classes since I was in diapers, but hadn't thought of acting. I completely credit my quick thinking abilities and wit to all the improv exercises I participated in at camp. Those were my favorites.

Big Courtney & Dad!
Still enjoying theatre :) 

After middle school summer camps, I did the high school productions. (Fittingly, my first performance was in The Music Man) I can dance, but I can't sing to save my life, so I often stayed in the chorus. However I always danced and reacted my heart out on that stage. I even saw the behind the scenes aspect as Assistant Director for Suessical my senior year. Even though I no longer participate in acting, I still appreciate good theatre.

I'm a big fan of the TKTS booth in NYC, and I love seeing National Tours at the Hippodrome. A part of me misses the feeling of being up on stage, both my dance recitals in the early 90s and my high school productions.

Just this past weekend, I once again felt that longing for it. My Dad took me to see a production of my all time favorite show, Into the Woods. (Side note: If you like Stephen Sondheim we can totally be best friends). It was beautifully done and well cast.

I hope to continue this appreciation for theatre through old age. I will be that frail, little, 80 year old woman rocking out to a local production of Hair. I'm all about supporting the arts.

I guess in order to wrap this up I should bring it back to the beginning. Thanks Dad for sparking my love of theatre! Sentimental moment: I know I'll always cherish it for the rest of my life.

May all your memories be meaningful,
Courtney

Flashback Fridays: Power Rangers!

Go Go Power Rangers!
I'd totally rock those boots.
Photo Credit: FanPop.com

I will preface this by saying if you didn't have a favorite Power Ranger, you were not a child of the 90s. But like really. Ok that may be a little harsh, but these six heros were a huge part of the 90s childhood culture. I can recall many afternoons running around the cul-de-sac imitating killer karate moves in an effort to save the world before dinner time.

I would always fight for my right to be the Pink Ranger. I mean come on, I had brown hair just like she did. Shouldn't that be evidence enough? Anyways, we'd traverse through back yards and around the houses fighting off those imaginary bad guys that of course only we could see.

I always wanted to be the Pink Ranger. I totally had a pink ranger barbie doll, pink ranger costume, and pink ranger morphing action figure. I may have been a little obsessed. We'll chalk up to be embracing my inner theatrical side. 

I don't recall much of the television show, but I do remember that the movie was pretty kick ass. Just watch this clip: 

All those special effects! All that action! All that spandex! 

 OK so yes the girls were given the typical pink and yellow colors, but can we step back and think about how these girls showed just as much power as the boys? They weren't the damsels in distress often found in superhero stories; they actually were a part of the super group. They switched it up though. I think in one of the later series/spin offs the blue ranger was a girl and the yellow ranger was a boy. Yay switching it up from typical "gender appropriate" colors. 

If you're currently wanting to fulfill your dream of becoming a Power Ranger, I found a website selling t-shirts. I still want to rock the Pink Ranger one. Now accepting donations... not really, but my birthday is in July. 

Who was your favorite Ranger? 

"Where Are They Now?" Wednesdays: Your Favorite Cartoon Characters

Alright so this is a bit of a deviation from my standard "Where are They Now?" Wednesday topics. I typically indulge in some hardcore investigative journalism and dig up juicy details on our favorite 90s has-beens. Actually I just spend a few minutes googling, but that did sound pretty legit.

However, this week, I am taking the fictional route. On College Humor, someone posted a few illustrations of what all of our favorite 90s/early 2000s cartoon characters would be up to if they were now in college like most of us.

The pictures were too funny to resist sharing. I'm not going to post all of them because you should totally go give the original artist some love on their site. (The images are split between two posts)  I'm just going to feature a few of my favorites.

All photos are credited to Patrick Merryman of College Humor

All your favorite brainiacs and trouble makers in the library

I'm a little surprised by Timmy Turner in this, but I guess if you spent your childhood with Fairly OddParents this is what happens

Anime Fight Club? I can't decide if I would pick Pikachu or Hello Kitty

Hit the nail right on the head with the "cool black friends" one.

I have to admit, it's odd seeing some characters from my youth in a completely different light. I feel like I've been (POW!) kicked right in the childhood.

What do you think of this "Cartoon University?" Any characters you would have liked to see that Patrick missed? 

Memory Mondays: My Favorite Picture

I didn't even know it existed until a few weeks ago. Allow me to explain. I am an only child, which means I am my parents' pride and joy. This has resulted in photo album after photo album after photo album filled with pictures from my childhood. All of these currently fill part of a bookshelf in my mother's home.

No one really looks at them, but I guess they're there for when we feel nostalgic.

 Or maybe my mom looks at them when I'm gone and cries over them or something like that. I'm not entirely sure. (I'm not heartless, I really do love her, promise).

However, I decided to take a look at a few of the albums in preparation for writing this blog. I then came across this gem:

Little Courtney & The Awful Apple Juice Hangover

According to my mother, she snapped this as I was recovering in bed from a fever. Yeah...apparently that's kodak moment material? Not entirely sure, but I just find this picture amusing. Maybe it's because it doesn't have that typical family photo album happy go lucky feel. You know what I'm talking about. The vacation pictures where everyone is all happy smiley or even better, those awkward family photos. This just seems more real.

If only sick days today were as easy as curling up with blankie, relaxing with my ninny (the pacifier), and putting a cold compress on my head. I have some pretty fond memories of sick days. Most were spent curled up in bed watching daytime television and cartoons. They always included kraft mac and cheese. Here in college, it requires a bit more of an effort and perhaps a few trips to the health center. Plus lots of worrying about all the work you're missing.

Do you have any favorite pictures from your childhood? Feel free to share!

May All Your Memories Be Meaningful,

Courtney

Flashback Fridays: Holiday Television

Photo Credit: Nick.com

I'm not Jewish, but I can still write about Passover, right? OK I've never celebrated passover, but I do know about it. How? Not from friends, distant relatives, or good ole Wikipedia, but rather, from some 90s Nickelodeon!

That's right! Rugrats once had a Passover themed episode. Looking back, that was rather progressive of them. I can easily recall at least ten different TV episodes from childhood that featured some Christmas theme, but rarely did anyone approach Jewish holidays as source material.

Some shows typically lampoon the commercialism of various holidays, but this episode takes an appropriate stance. It manages to keep the same charming humor of Rugrats all while explaining this Jewish tradition. The episode tells the story of Passover but with the Rugrats characters in place of the historical figures.  Sure it's a little abridged, but for a half hour episode it certainly covers it well.

So even if you're not celebrating this evening, I encourage you to check it out. As a part of it's 90s Are All That feature, Nickelodeon has put the full episode online. You can watch it here! Even if you don't celebrate it, brush up on your culture a bit and learn something.

However, I am left with one question. (English Major Critical Thinking Skills). If they all end up locked in this attic, then how did they ever get out?

Do you have any fond memories of holiday television? Feel free to share!

"Where Are They Now?" Wednesdays: S Club 7

I recently received a "where are they now?' request from one of my fellow ENGL488B bloggers, Briana. She wants to know what happened to S Club 7. I'll admit I have a very vague memory of them. 


Here's what I remember: 

• They were a pop band from the UK.
• They had an American TV show.
• There were seven of them. 
• There ain't no party like an S Club Party:

This is a lazy Wednesday. I feel like no one really knew them by their individual names, but rather, they thought of the group as a whole. Seriously, if you can look at the photo below and match the names with the people, you're far better at this than I am. Here's a list of what a few of them are up to:

Photo Credit: BritRish.com

• Tina went on to have a relatively unsuccessful solo career in the UK
• Paul went on to have an even less successful DJ career. No joke he, Jo, and Bradley tried to form 'S Club 3' in 2008. Really? Really...? 
• Jon has dabbled in film and C list reality star competitions. 
• Bradley only remained active in a few featured artist roles on other songs
• Jo apparently went the reality route as well and starred on the UK show "Celebrity" Big Brother 2008. 
• Hannah moves back and forth between television and live theatre 
• Rachel ended up with the most successful solo career. She apparently had a few solo #1s on the UK pop charts. 

 They band split in the early 2000s, but luckily for Brianna they're going on a reunion tour!  You just need to go to the UK to see it. After seeing what they've been up to, I'm not surprised they want to get back together. Seems the Spice Girls have been much better off than these kids.