Melanie's Muses
Menu
Jenn - Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!We all have those shows that from the beginning we just loved. You never really lost interest in it. For me that show is "Lucifer". I started this journey right at the very beginning in 2016 and I’ve been there ever since. I was even there for the #savelucifer campaign, which thankfully ended up working. I hate cliffhangers and that season three cliffhanger was a doozy. If you haven’t seen this show, then you’re definitely missing out. Don’t let the title fool you. What’s that saying?-- Never trust a book by its cover. Well that’s also true with shows. Now, yes it’s about the devil but not in the way you may think. He runs a very successful nightclub in LA called Lux along with his best friend/trusty demon Maze. Lux. What a name! Sounds like a place I’d definitely want to go to. He meets a LA police detective named Chloe Decker and that’s when our story begins. Though through the seasons you’ll end up with a few flashbacks and yes they’re pivotal for the story.
Dave - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"You heard of the show "Castle", right? Imagine "Castle" but Castle is the devil. That's basically the best way to describe the show "Lucifer". Now they don't just pluck him off the street to help just because they had nothing better to do. He was a witness to a murder of his friend and does a bit of his own investigating with his special talents. You'd think he'd have trouble keeping this dark secret, right? Nope. He pretty much tells anyone that listens that he is the devil. No one actually believes him though. If you met someone that said they were the devil, wouldn't you send them to Bellevue ASAP? Before the show even aired, people started to freak out. Oh my God! A show about the devil! Cancel it! Well, guess what? It didn't work. Why would anyone to listen to people that never watched it anyway? This show epitomizes perfection. Everyone straight down the line. Showrunners, writers, cast. Everything falls in line. If one thing was out of place, it wouldn't have had the success it did. The devilish humor (yes, pun intended) add the right punches, in all the scenes without overdoing it and making it cheesy, making you groan. At its core, it’s basically a police procedural but one of the characters is, well, the devil.
Melanie -I think by now everybody knows that I am a HUGE Lucifer fan! One of the founders of the Morningstars fan group - from Episode 1 we all knew this show had something special. I was very lucky that I was working with Voice of TV and then Telfie while Lucifer was starting off and I actually got to interview showrunner Joe Henderson before the Season 2 premiere. Yes - this cast and crew are as awesome as they look on twitter! I used to live tweet every Monday with them - and even won a Maze cosplay competition - It is safe to say I was hooked! As mentioned above Fox did the show dirty - and #SaveLucifer almost broke the internet! I was fortunate to be a part of that campaign and blessed to have inside info to know to KEEP GOING - and we did it! I have made many videos about Lucifer over the years - right up to a spoiler filled breakdown of Season 5B - all the videos are at the bottom - Spoilers for them are announced so you can decide which you want to watch. The older videos are ummmm interesting lol. That being said the Lucifer train hasn't always run smoothly for me - there have been a few times that I have been irritated with how things were going story wise! Season 1 is killer - I never tire of watching that ... Season 2 is good - and has some great moments .... Season 3 has some good episodes but the network wanted too many episodes and the fractures show! Season 4 is a masterpiece - Honestly I would have been happy if it all ended there! (Yes yes I know - pretty much no one else agrees!... Season 5 was 2 sections A and B - B was stronger in my opinion but I'm still salty - and the actual final Season, Season 6 airs tomorrow. Wonder what that will bring! As Dave mentioned - when Season 3 originally aired on Fox, after the finale there were 2 bonus episodes. The Episode “Boo Normal” should be watched after S3 Ep 15 but before S3 Ep 16 (I am not sure why Netflix doesn’t take this opportunity to FIX it as they are streaming them) – and the other episode is a completely alternative reality “What If” type scenario so can really be viewed at any time. Personally I like it at the end of S4 as sort of a palate cleanser but most people watched it after S3. Fun fact – the episode is narrated by Neil Gaiman as God – which as he invented the Sandman world that Lucifer appears in in the comic books was a lovely touch. There are other references to the comics too through out the show such as the devil worshippers thinking he would be blonde (Lucifer is blonde in Gaiman’s versions). ** All episodes from Seasons 1-5B are streaming now with your Netflix subscription in the U.S. Season 6 will have all episodes available TOMORROW - September 10th! The Code Word For This Article Is Lucifer! Be sure to let us know what you think about Lucifer in the comments! My Lucifer Videos in Order - Some of them are bad - you have been warned lol Lucifer - Take Me Back To Hell Season 1 Finale Recap - As VampireLovingDork *SPOILERS* My Everyone Needs To Watch Lucifer Season 2 Promo - As VampireLovingDork Lucifer Season 4 - Why We Need It - #Save Lucifer Why Lucifer Has The Best Pilot - In 60 Seconds My Top 10 Lucifer Episodes (Up to and including Season 5A) *SPOILERS* Lucifer Season 5B - Breakdown and Theories with Greg, Susan, and Shannon *ALL THE SPOILERS!!!!*
Jenn - Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
I love different, and this show was definitely that. This week’s discussion is "Grimm", somewhat based on Grimm Fairytales. I was so excited that I even started a group called Grimmsters, which actually took off and became the name of fans for the show. Exciting, right? It’s also how I met Dave, well kind of dragged him into being an admin for the group. My thought was I like this guy, he’d be great at this and he was. Now he’s my best friend and I wouldn’t change loving or watching "Grimm" for anything. It’s true that you can meet great people through tv shows.
Now, about the show. It starts off with you meeting Aunt Marie and Nick, who learns just like his aunt, he’s a Grimm and can see the wesen whether they want him to or not. During a murder investigation, he meets Monroe who at first tries killing the new Grimm. But honestly who can blame him? Kill the Grimm or be killed was a way of life for many. Many previous Grimms kill wesen on sight. No questions asked. But Monroe soon comes to find out Nick is no ordinary Grimm. Nick's a cop. He’s not just going to harm someone without a reason even if they’re wesen. As the new Grimm on the block, Nick needs someone to show him the ropes. Lucky for Nick, Monroe isn't your average wesen. They make a great team. This show has six glorious seasons but some people may have never seen or even heard of it, so no spoilers but I will say it’s on Amazon Prime. All seasons! So, what are you waiting for? Go get your binge on!
Dave - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
When I first heard of "Grimm", I was intrigued. I don't like a lot of fairytales but when you add a twist, that’s what lures me in. At the base of the show, its just like most police procedurals but the perps are wesen. (Sidenote: I always wanted one episode to have a twist. To have everything look like it was wesen related but turns out to be an ordinary human. But alas, that never happened. (Melanie here - I always wanted that too - it seemed like an obvious plot twist :\) They can change into an animal-type beings. That's probably not described right and sounds weird but it will make more sense when you watch. Note: WHEN you watch. Not IF you watch. Because you must watch it.
A lot of the first season was more fairytale based with takes on Goldilocks, Three Little Pigs, Cinderella, etc but once the show got established and got its story arc going, it had more character driven plots. They did revisit a couple fairytales later but not many. The show is absolutely fantastic. Rosalee joins the cast of characters about half way through the first season. That kinda makes rewatching the early shows awkward because you almost swear she was with the show from the beginning.
Adding on to what Jenn said, this is how I met her and Mels, since she was an admin there also. Although because me and Mels both usually aren't the ones sending a friend request, it took us forever to actually become FB friends. So "Grimm" will always hold a special place in my heart. They have become my family. In fact, I talk to them more than my actual family. What started out as just a common interest in a show has blossomed into so much more. It’s been 9 years since I met these two and it’s changed my life immensely.
Melanie -
What can I add that Jenn and Dave haven't already covered? Well as Jenn already said she started Grimmsters and I already knew her from True Blood things and so she asked me to admin. Like she said we have NO Idea how much that would grow. Networks often watch the fandom to see what's brewing and they locked onto Grimmsters almost immediately. We were lucky enough that Executive Producer Norberto Barba joined the group quite early on, as did some other members of the crew, and we got to see behind the scenes exclusives, BUT even more exciting for me was we actually got a little input on the show in the early days! Aside from them adopting the Grimmster name, they listened when we said we hated the updated titles and changed them (literally within a couple of weeks), and when we had a HUGE discussion post about the upcoming season finale and the huge cliffhanger we thought was coming - they put a note up at the end saying "Sorry Grimmsters but you knew it was coming!"
As many of you know "I don't like werewolves", so when I tell you that my fav couple in this were Monroe (who is a Blutbad - basically a werewolf) and Rosalee (who is a fuschbau - basically a fox) you know that this show has something extra special. BUT if you are a bit wary of the shifter idea - fear not - there is magic afoot too in the form of witchy characters called Hexenbiests (which is what I would be for sure!) As with most shows I wasn't a fan of the ending. For me the whole last season was a little meh - many disagree - but I am super picky. That being said I was sad to see it go and I miss the excitement that came with the new episodes each week. I have rewatched the episodes a few times now and am STILL on the hunt for easter eggs I missed. A fun one for you to start with - in (I think) every episodes (and at least in a lot of them) you will see something with the season and episode number - for explain Season 2 Episode 4 might have an address shows - 204. Sometimes fun to look for and with all 6 seasons streaming free with your amazon prime subscription what are you waiting for?
The Code Word For This Article Is MonRosalee!
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
And Now For The Giveaway
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Grimm" Prize Pack featuring the Season 1 DVD set and Grimm Fairy Tales book sent in by Jennifer, plus bookmarks, a little pig, and a headband from the Melanie's Muses Prize Hoard!! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - In the show - Wesen (pronounced Vesen) is the collective name given to the non-human forms that the Grimm can see. If you have watched the show what Wesen would YOU want to be? If you haven't watched the show what animal would you like to be able to partly shift into? (In the show the creatures become sort of half creatures). The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on September 19th (and then posted here on the blog as well on September 20th if the winner isn't at the live.) Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Jenn - Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
Old shows, now some people my think those are boring, but not me. Actually, I think they’re some of the best. Don’t believe me? Well maybe just check out a few and see. If you are not really sure which ones to give a try, well then maybe check out a few on my favorites list.
"M*A*S*H" is one that sticks with you from the first time that you watch because the main character of Hawkeye is just so loveable. And Margaret Houlihan, or Hot Lips as she’s been dubbed by the other officers is one fierce female character that makes me go wow. During the period of when this show was out, they didn’t have many of those. Now these two along with the rest of the characters make for one great show and story, even if it’s about a mobile army hospital during the Korean War. (Melanie - I LOVED this show growing up!)
Still with me? Good! Now another old favorite of mine is "Facts of Life". Boy can that theme song stay in your head. It’s so catchy. This show about an all-girl’s boarding school is beautifully done. Especially how it shows the aspect of four girls and their friendship. Not only through them being in high school but even after that. Through the characters of Joe and Blair it shows that no matter how different two people are they can still be the best of friends.
Now this one is sort of a spin off of another oldie but hey I like it and that show is "Mama's Family". Mama Harper is just one fierce grandma and no matter how much she complains about her family in the end, she would do anything for them something I think we can relate to with our own families. Now, I honestly can’t think of "Mama's Family" without thinking of my favorite character Iola. Though she shows up in later seasons, she’s a great addition to the cast and sometimes I can see myself in her, just because we can both be a little weird.
Now, this one I’m sure everyone has heard of. "Golden Girls". Man do I love this show, not only because it shows the power of friendship and family, alright they may not all be related, well except for Sophia and Dorothy but they treat each other like they are. Whether it’s staying up late and talking to help each other or just having fun, these girls are the embodiment of what friends and family should be. Not only that, they were way ahead of their time, tackling issues other shows wouldn’t dare tackle during that time. And you know what? Good for them because some things definitely need to be discussed. (Melanie - Amazing the topics they addressed. You know this is one of Em's favorites!)
Now, this one, if I’m honest I can’t really stand. I find it annoying and sometimes I find myself saying why do these two-stay married, but I have to give it a mention because of Katey Sagal or in this sitcom she’s known as Peggy Bundy. Also, I know we all have different taste so some may actually enjoy "Married with Children" more than I do, but yes, I constantly watch it because of Katey. I’m sure we’ve all done that before. Hated a show, but then watched because of one actor that you just love so much.
This show, is not really on anymore but boy do I miss it and that’s "Alice". Yes, the one about a woman and her son wanting to start over. They break down in Arizona so she decides to stay and work at Mel's Diner. Even though the cast changes three different times, it still always seems good to me. Not like when usually a show changes characters and you’re like I’m done. This actually works. I wish logo would put this show back on, because boy did I enjoy it.
Now, this one is not as old as the others but it can definitely hold its own and that’s "The Nanny". Fran Drescher sure knew what she was doing with this show. From the loveable characters to the perfect OTP in Fran and Max. I even liked C.C. even if I did feel like hitting her at times. (Melanie - Another of Em's favorites! We had to buy her the DVD set lol)
These shows will forever live in my heart and I will always enjoy them whenever they are on.
Dave - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
There are so many great old shows. Well, not that I'd call myself old (but I am) so I'll just call them "older" shows. There, that sounds better. Being faced with this challenge, there are so many I want to list and for different reasons but I'm going to try to limit it to less than 50 shows. Umm, I mean less than 5 shows. No more than 12.
"Mad About You" I fell in love with this show when it first aired. I was a fan of Paul Reiser before. So, when his new show with Helen Hunt was premiering, I had to tune in. Its about a newlywed couple who have only been married 6 months and just dealing with their new life together. What makes this show special is the inside jokes and running gags that make numerous mentions. They are often overlooked by the casual viewer but those of us that watch every week get it and laugh while the rest are wondering what we are laughing at.
"Three's Company" All you need are 2 words. John Ritter. The man was an absolute legend. Comedic genius. Always putting everything he had into his performance and carried the show through a couple cast changes, and giving his all no matter what. Most actors are lucky to have one successful series. He had a few more after this. Of course, there's spin off "Three's a Crowd" (one season), "Hooperman" (2 seasons), "Hearts Afire" (3 seasons), and "8 Simple Rules". He passed away during the early part of the 2nd season of "8 Simple Rules".
"It's a Living" aka "Making a Living" during its 2nd season before changing its name back to "It's a Living" going into a syndication with brand new first run episodes for 4 more seasons for a total of 120 episodes. This is another show that had a few cast member changes. The show was about a group of waitresses in a restaurant on top of a skyscraper.
"Reasonable Doubts" This pick is going to change things up a bit. All of these have been sitcoms so far. This one is a cop/legal drama that NBC doomed. Mark Harmon was a cop and Marlee Matlin was a prosecuting attorney. They meet when Mark's character is testifying at one of her trials and she signs to her companion (since she is deaf) that "he shouldn't be allowed to be a witness at a wedding". His father was deaf so he knows what she said. So, she becomes his next assignment since he knows sign language and she needs a cop to work with. Anyway, back to my grief about how NBC screwed it over. It ran for 2 seasons and probably had about 12 time slots in that time. I think it aired on every night of the week at least once, rarely ever 3 or 4 consecutive weeks and then taking a few weeks off before airing another one. No one could ever find the show to watch it! Remember, this was 1991-1993. There was no DVR to set and record or On Demand to watch later and definitely no streaming or downloading. If you didn't watch it when it aired, or know it was on to set the VCR, you missed it. I had to study TV Guide magazine every week to see if it was on and if it was a new one. I loved it and it had such great potential if they'd keep it in one slot to gain a following.
"Cheers" and "Night Court" Yes, they are 2 separate shows but since they ran around the same time, I can't think of one without thinking of the other. At the time, they were probably my 2 favorite shows on the air. Classic sitcoms of the 80's on display. Classic characters, classic lines. Always a good time with these two.
(Melanie - Wow Dave you have a lot that Greg has mentioned but I haven't seen. With Night Court coming back we are hoping they will start streaming that somewhere!)
Code Word For This Article Is Oldies
Jenn Says - Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!Now I've talked about things that I collect before. Now I want to talk about another. Though more people may collect these. Funko pops are more popular than ever. Once you get one you can’t stop. Trust me, I’ve tried. Funko doesn't just have pops anymore though they have keychains, minis, plushies, pens and even dorbz items. It’s never ending, and you can usually find any character you love from movies or tv, they even have those odd ones. Icons they’re called, you know like the Kool-Aid man. Now, they don’t make everything. There’s tv shows you think should be made into pops. But Funko drags their feet and doesn’t do it, even though fans would flock to buy them. (Melanie here - just jumping in to add this is usually a licensing issue - Pretty sure Funko would make EVERYTHING if they could) One that I wish they’d make is Lucifer pops, but nothing unfortunately. They'd make a killing! So many variations-- Lucifer's devil face, Luci with wings, Maze's demon face, Lucifer dressed as Dan, etc! Now, every now and then I’ll get a whole collection of some, like I did with the Big Bang Theory, but the ones I have that I love the most are my Harleys. Any new Harley that comes out. I’m all over buying those, even though I probably wouldn’t have had them without the help of my best friends. Do you collect pops? If so, do you have any favorites or like me is there one character you have to buy no matter what edition they make. I’ve also noticed if a pop is popular enough, they get expensive, or even become hard to find. I have a few of those as well, again thanks to my besties, like my glow in the dark Harley, didn’t even know that existed! so thanks Dave. I love her and she is definitely one of my favorites. Dave Says - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"It starts with one. One is all it takes. Then another. "Oh, this one is cool too." Soon it becomes obsession. The world has become overrun with Funko Pops. I never intended to have so many. My first one was Charlie from Supernatural. Loved the character and saw the Pop and just had to get it! But I told myself I wouldn't buy every single one I liked. Only a few select ones. Then they started expanding. Making more and more for just about everything. TV, movies, comics, anime, musicians, even politicians and historical figures. I normally don't get whole collections. I usually cherry pick the ones I like the most. Whether its by character or design, but then someone decides to send me more anyway (JENN!). That just sends your collection into a tizzy. You have to redo shelves looking for more space, seeing if you fit more if you turn them around or flip them on their sides. As with most things, I can't really pick a favorite. But probably the most expensive one I got was Ultraman. He was getting hard to find but found one for $30 when the rest were around $50. So, I splurged a little. You even have Etsy artists that make a custom Funko of you! I have sent 2 of those out-- one to Jenn and one to Mel’s, complete with her Tardis dress. The maker spent 6 weeks on it and I got impatient waiting for them to see the finished product but the result and reaction were well worth it. They can be pricey but the detail is exceptional-- if you go to the right one. I have recently counted my pops on my list. I have 264. What's your Pop number? Remember, once you Pop, you just can't stop. Melanie - If you don't know who she is at this point - Well there's probably no helping you lol
So where is my collection 6 years later? OVERTAKING THE HOUSE lol! I did manage to get my "Grail" Castiel mentioned in the video - I actually got 2! Susan sent me one and my sister-in-law also sent me one. So that was AMAZING! I have so many now and I love them all! I even have 2 "Custom Melanie" Pops. The one Dave mentioned above which matches me in my dress, and then one that Muser Shannon Watts had made and sent to me! Aren't they Fab?
To finish up, I wanted to say that although I still love the ones that I mentioned in the video I figured I would share the ones currently in pride of place on my desk (these do change from time to time). AND My 1st Chase (Yup more on that coming).
Code Word For This Article Is - Funko GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Funko" Prize Pack featuring a Hot Tamles Funko Pop and Hot Tamles Funko Plush sent in by Jennifer, Choker and A MYSTERY FUNKO (In the Box) from the Melanie's Muses Prize Hoard!! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Do you have a Favorite Funko Pop? (and feel free to tell us why!) (If you don't collect them which one do you think you would like - Or is there one that hasn't been made yet that might tempt you to start?) The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on September 12th (and then posted here on the blog as well on September 13th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Jenn - Do adults love kids shows? Well the answer to that question for me is yes. Well at least the ones I grew up with anyways. I grew up with "Rugrats", "Hey Arnold", and "Spongebob" (although I never really got into that on, but the two I want to talk about today, that I've recently rewatched and man I just love them, are "iCarly" and "Henry Danger".
Melanie - I love kids shows too - and not just the ones I watched when I was young although they have a special place in my heart. I love Wizards of Waverly Place, and I recently watched the new Worst Witch series on Netflix and loved it (up until they changed out the main actress), and of course the original Worst Witch movie (Muser Ashley Brilinksi did a guest piece on that last year which you can read here! Note the giveaway is long over!)
Jenn - Both shows I mentioned were originally on Nickelodeon and yes "iCarly" was rebooted on Paramount+, but honestly without Sam it just isn’t the same to me. I mean it’s not bad. It’s just not the same and yes, I’m older now also, but I’ve never liked when they reboot a show with one or more of the original cast is missing even though I respect the actresses choice regarding not wanting to return.
"iCarly" was about a group of school friends doing a popular web show. (Melanie - Greg and Em used to LOVE iCarly lol - GIBBY!) "Henry Danger" on the other hand is about a hero and his sidekick fighting crime. There is a spin off of that going on now called "Danger Force". I recently checked it out and I’m hooked.
Jenn - Why would I watch these shows, you say. Well sometimes I get tired of drama whether it be from a show or fandom and honestly kid shows don’t really have that, so it’s kind of refreshing plus the story of these three aren’t bad either. Also, its a piece of nostalgia. Going back to simpler time, and I think that's something we all need every now and then.
Melanie - I hear that! Sometimes the fandom drama is ridiculous. I will still watch kids shows if they catch my eye, and I love to go back and watch ones I grew up with too! Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team! The Code Word For This Article Is Cartoons Dave - Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Someone asks you a question. You answer "42. The ultimate answer is always 42" as you laugh. They give you a blank stare like you are crazy. Right then and there you know they don't get it and have never watched "Hitchhikers Guide to the Galaxy". The perfect response is wasted.
The movie has just about everything. Top of the line casting including Martin Freeman, Zooey Deschanel, Sam Rockwell, and Alan Rickman. Quick-witted humor, mixed with dry humor and a manic depressed robot, Marvin, voiced by Severus Snape himself. So many things have come from this. Babelfish is a translator so you can understand any language (not unlike the TARDIS translator) and also used as a translator online. The Guide is like Siri. Ask it anything and it will tell you.
Rockwell's portrayal of the eccentric Zaphod, who hides a second head under his neck, is out of this world-- so to speak. Who would ever think the dry humor of the deadpan Marvin would highlight the humorous travels across the galaxy? The infinite improbability drive is a whole other story. Where else can you find a movie that has a segment featuring characters made of yarn? You're probably wondering why I haven't tried to explain the plot. You're right. I haven't. And I won't. Watching the trailer would explain it better.
Until next time, always bring your towel. So long and thanks for all the fish.
Melanie - No intro for Melanie- If you don't know who she is then why are you here lol!
I remember watching the TV series when I was just a child, and then discovering the books in my teens! I always was, and still am, a fan of things that are a little bit out there. With some references that Whovians could definitely, the Douglas Addams world certainly stands apart, and has offered (as Dave mentioned) some classic quotes that only fans will understand.
The TV series only covered book one and was released in the early 80's. Anyone that watched the live on Sunday will see my Trillion themed hair and make-up (I mean who doesn't love a little 80's throwback). The books are a complete series (for those that can't deal with things unfinished), and as Addam's sadly passed in 2001 we know that the original storyline is complete (and should stay that way - no additional input is needed!) Whilst the story might be finished, it would appear the adaptations are not. Dave mentioned the 2005 movie, which didn't do as well as expected even though with purists not liking the changes (personally I thought they were fabulous and Alan Rickman voicing the depressed robot - I mean COME ON...), and newcomers perhaps not appreciating what the idea was meant to be. Other than Galaxy Quest (and more recently The Orville), generally Sci Fi with comedy is a fairly limited market. That doesn't seem to have deterred Hulu thought from venturing into the Hitchhikers universe. Rumors that they were looking to launch it again as a TV series started in 2019. Whilst nothing much further has been released there was a quiet announcement that it had been renewed for Season 2 already which would be good news for anyone looking NOT to start yet another failed adventure. There are even reports that it will be taking over the filming spaces of former FOX, now Hulu only show The Orville fueling speculation that the as yet unreleased Season 3 will be the last for that (filming recently wrapped - again with little to no news being released). I would definitely be interested in seeing an updated version although with the original series streaming currently on Amazon Prime I am about to do a rewatch with Greg (because he remembers very little and hasn't read the books). Casual visitors would probably find the 2005 movie an easy introduction, personally my vote would be for reading the books, and finally if you love the 80s, and BBC TV, then check out the series on Prime. Life, The Universe, and Everything awaits!
The Code Word For This Article Is Trillian!
Please note the trailer for the BBC Show is fan made - I couldn't find an official one.
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
AND NOW FOR THE GIVEAWAY!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Hitchhikers" Prize Pack featuring the 2005 DVD, Book 1, and a Don't Panic decal sent in by Dennifer, stickers and mask from the Melanie's Muses Prize Hoard. For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What's one of your favorite Fandom references? Examples - Fish Fingers And Custard (Doctor Who) Tip Your Waitress (True Blood) OMG AARON!!! (Ghost Adventures) Winter Is Coming (Game of Thrones) The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on September 5th (and then posted here on the blog as well on September 6th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Jenn -
So, I’m back with another old but very different movie. Hey, what can I say except different is better, even if it’s cheesy. This movie is none other than "Little Monsters" starring Fred Savage & Howie Mandel. I was so excited when I realized it was streaming on Netflix, I admit I screamed happily out loud, because this movie is one of those that you can watch over and over and still enjoy. The movie starts off with Brian and his family moving to a new house in a new town, which at first, he despises until he meets Maurice. Maurice happens to be a monster who lives under his bed. You’re thinking "how cliché!", right? Nope! Trust me, this movie goes beyond that and shows you having only fun is never what it’s cracked up to be.
Maurice and Brian become fast friends after Brian captures him and saves his life from the sun. You’re probably thinking "what?". But if you happened to have not seen this then I’m definitely not telling you what I mean by that. Maurice also ends up showing him the world of monsters and shadows that happen to be right under the bed-- and yes, I do mean anybody’s bed. In the end though Brian just might have the biggest choice of his entire life to make, hope he makes the right decision but the only way you know if he does or doesn’t is to check out this amazing, old cheesy forgotten classic of a movie.
Jennifer Rhodes met Melanie back when True Blood was popular and they have been friends ever since. She loves TV (especially things that make you smile), Doctor Who, Finding new shows, and regularly provides awesome fandom items for Muser Giveaways. Jennifer is now a proud member of the VIPers - the Melanie's Muses Spotlight Feature Team!
The Code Word For This Article Is Monsters
Check out the trailer and then check out the movie free with your Netflix subscription or rent/buy the movie on Amazon!
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
Dave says-
Cute. Cuddly. And just a wee bit murderous. "Gremlins" has a distinct place in cinematic history. For those of us around when this gem flashed upon the silver screen, we remember the press and somewhat controversy surrounding the violent images contained herein. This is the movie that invented the PG-13 rating, along with "Indiana Jones and the Temple of Doom". Both originally had a PG rating until complaints came flying in. Not many movies have the honor of inventing a new rating because someone saw Gizmo and Steven Spielberg’s name, assuming this would be another "E.T." (just a reminder to never "assume", you know what that does) and thought it would be appropriate for a 4 year old child. Did they watch the trailer? Have they heard it described as a comedy-horror? What about that sounds good for a 4 year old? We don't actually see Stripe in trailer but we hear that wicked laugh. But then again, I've seen people take young kids into "Nightmare on Elm Street" movies. So, what do I know? Moving right along.
For all its success and high box office numbers, it failed to be #1 in its opening weekend. But that’s ok, it came in at #2, only $1.1 million behind another classic, "Ghostbusters". Come to think of it, I think that’s why I didn't end up seeing "Gremlins" in theaters. I was seeing "Ghostbusters". Everyone knows the story of the Gremlins so there is absolutely no need to go deep into the plot. Well, maybe a little. Dad looks for an unusual Christmas gift for his son and gets him a new pet. Every pet has rules. This one has three of them with deadly consequences if they aren't followed. And of course, they aren't. So, we see the results of not following rules.
With all highly successful films, a sequel was inevitable. This one is no exception except it had a considerably lighter tone to it than the original. Even though the original was darker and more horrific aspects, this one I would consider more of a straight forward comedy. I had difficulty placing them side by side on shelf in the video store I worked. Even calling it "light horror" would be one hell of a stretch, in my opinion. "Gremlins 2: The New Batch" has another dubious distinction from most films. One completely different scene for theaters vs home release. For the theatrical audience, looking like the film was destroyed by gremlins, the film strip appears to melt and be taken off. With shadows of the evil gremlins showing on screen and the movie theater usher going down the aisle to get none other than WWF wrestler Hulk Hogan to threaten them to return to the regular feature. For video release, it was switched to old John Wayne footage and him getting the gremlins to stop taking over your tv. When I saw it on VHS, I didn't think I'd ever see the Hulk Hogan footage again. It was nowhere on the VHS release. But luckily now we have DVDs and Blu rays with bonus features where it’s included as a deleted/alternate scene.
Much like a lot of 80's icons and franchises, this one is also in talks for 3rd chapter in the series. Haven't heard that much about it but I think the current commercial that is airing could be a sign of something big in the making.
Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
Susan Harris is a writer from Cork, Ireland and when she’s not torturing her readers with heart-wrenching plot twists or killer cliffhangers, she’s probably getting some new book related ink, binging her latest TV or music obsession, or with her nose in a book. She is a proud founding Member of the Muser VIPers and is responsible for Melanie not breaking the Website on an almost daily basis!You can check out all her books on Amazon HERE
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links(As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!) Melanie Here - The Code Word For This Article Is Gizmo
And Now For The Giveaway!
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Gremlins" Prize Pack featuring a tote bag, dvd, and pin sent in by Dennifer, For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - Would you want a Mogwai? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on August 29th (and then posted here on the blog as well on August 30th Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Melanie Says -
Oh True Blood .... Where to start! This was really my first foray into the world of being an Influenster. I picked up a random DVD at Blockbuster that was the pilot for a new vampire show that would go on to be one of HBO's biggest successes. I didn't realize until I started watching that this was based on a book series that I already enjoyed - The Southern Vampire Mysteries (AKA The Sookie Stackhouse Novels).
I was hooked immediately. It became an obsession that went far beyond my normal vamp preferences but little did I know how big this would become. Whilst the first season follows the first book fairly closely, as the seasons progress the two become completely unique entities, and in my opinion should be treated as such, with comparisons being pretty futile. By the end of Season 1 I was a member of several forums, (including the Facebook one where I met Jenn), I watched and rewatched looking for clues and hidden meanings, and by Season 4 I was blogging up recaps and theories for each and every episode (complete with a LOT of snark). I watched the extended HBO app versions and noted all the details - I joined the Klout (an influencer program voted on by other fans) and soon became one of the top 20 True Blood reps which rewarded me with things like signed comic books - and I irritated showrunners and writers with my obsessive thoughts when the later shows stopped having so many layers ..... I was actually asked to STOP looking for meanings that weren't there...... which only made me do it more! Even now True Blood holds a special place in my heart. I rewatch the first seasons often, I reread the first 8 books (it would need a whole other post to talk about what happened with them), and I smile. Without True Blood, Melanie's Muses as you know it may never have existed. I may never have met one of my best friends, and the path for so many other Vampire shows may not have been paved.
This show will forever live in my heart, no matter if I didn’t like the final two seasons of it. That show is "True Blood". I found this show by chance one day because I looked up vampire shows, which I was big into in those days. Don’t get me wrong I still love a good vampire/paranormal show but I love other stuff now as well. This show takes place in Bon Temps, Louisiana where humans have just learned that yes, vampires do indeed exist thanks to a synthetic blood drink called Tru Blood. During our first scene we meet Sookie Stackhouse, and Bill Compton and from there that’s when craziness ensues.
Not only do we have these two characters but there’s a array of others as well that just make you go WOW, like Eric, Sam, Pam, Tara, Jason, Jessica and Alcide who you meet in later seasons. Well Jessica you meet at the end of season one but no spoilers here, because maybe some haven’t seen this show. Oh, and we can’t forget Lafayette, or "La La" as dubbed by the Trubies, who along with Eric are my two favorite characters. Nelsan Ellis played La La and boy did he play him well. Rest In Peace my man. You’re missed. Nelsan passed in 2017 of heart failure at the age of 39. We also have Terry, Arlene, Andy and Hoyt. I could go on with character after character but I’ll just stop there.
This show centers around Sookie and the mystery surrounding her. "Why is everyone so obsessed with her?" as Pam would always say. Well maybe not exactly in those words. Want to find out? Well, this show has been around awhile, so if you’re into vampires, weres and everything in between then I definitely recommend you give this show a try. Also, it’s how Mel’s and me met. So, it definitely can’t be all that bad now, can it?
September 2008. The world at large was introduced to small Southern town of Bon Temps, Louisiana. Some readers were already familiar with the town and the inhabitants from the book series. But I don't read much. This show changed that. Well, a little bit anyway.
I was actually introduced to this series from magazine ads. The initial ads just showed a pair of fangs and blood dripping. I love a good vampire movie, or show in this case. So, I was ready to check it out. I knew nothing else about it but I ready for the ride. One thing that is a little different is that this is set in a world where vampires are "out of the coffin". The world knows of their existence. As you may have guessed, that doesn't sit well with everybody. Some still have their prejudices, even though vamps can live on the synthetic invention Tru Blood and no longer need to kill to survive.
Alan Ball, who previous created "Six Feet Under" for HBO handled the project and did a fantastic job of casting and melding the town. Even managing to keep readers on their toes with little change ups and decoys. The first of which came at the end of Season 1 with a cliff-hanger. Finding a dead body in a car and all we see is the foot hanging out of the door as it opens. From the time it aired in November 2008 until the Season 2 premiere in June 2009, all the readers thought they had it figured out. They read the books. They knew whose foot it was. Until it was changed. The big reveal fooled a lot of people and relieved a whole lot more that have been listened to the readers during that 7-month gap.
As I said, I wasn't much of a reader so my introduction came from the series. I started reading the books half way through season 2. I was too eager to see what happened next! The books have numerous changes. For starters, the books are told exclusively from Sookie's perspective. None of the other side stories from the series are in here. The only time we even see the side characters-- Jason, Tara, Lafayette, etc is when Sookie interacts with them. Whenever a book, or book series is adapted for tv or movies, we have to expect changes. OK, I get that. But I expected certain things. Big mistake on my part. As I am reading the books, I am imagining it happening. I can't wait to see these things happen on screen! Then a curve ball here, a curve ball there. Then somewhere along the way, the series takes a giant left turn far away from everything that happened in the book, creating its own storyline and I don’t get to see all those things I imagined. Even in season 3 & 4, it seems like only small nuggets of the book are represented.
What started out so great, really started to fall apart by Season 5 with the departure of Alan Ball. Season 6 fell even further with new creative direction before finally putting a stake into its heart for Season 7, which in my opinion was dreadful to sit through. I thought it dragged out too far and I sat through it to see how it ended and nearly put a stake in my own heart to stop the suffering.
The Code Word For This Article Is Fangtasia
The eBook (Book 1 - Dead Until Dark) is on sale right now for just $2.99! Buy the Season 1 DVD or watch all seasons free with your HBO Max Subscription!
All Links To Buy / Subscribe to Amazon Programs On Amazon in this article are Amazon Affiliate Links (As an Amazon Associate I earn from qualifying purchases which in turns helps support all the Muser giveaways we do!)
And Now For The Giveaway
GIVEAWAY DETAILS & HOW TO ENTER!
Melanie's Muses will be giving away a "Vampire" Prize Pack featuring the first two Sookie Stackhouse books sent in by Dennifer, Choker and Bat Stickers sent in by Vicky Pond, and a thrown back True Blood Season 3 Blockbuster Postcard and Susan Harris Signed Swag from the Melanie's Muses Prize Hoard!! For your chance to win- leave a comment ON THIS POST ON THE WEBSITE (comments left on shares around other social media WILL NOT COUNT) - What Type Of Paranormal Creature Would You Want To Be If You Could Choose .... And Why? The winner will be picked randomly from qualifying comments. Other comments about the article are very welcome but only entrants with the qualifying comments will go in the hat! What your answer is will not influence whether you go into the hat - Only that you answer the question! Winner will be announced during the Live show on August 22nd (and then posted here on the blog as well on August 23rd Full Rules Below! Good luck everyone! Rules
Mel -One Season Wonders! Those shows that grace the airwaves for just one set of episodes, only to be cancelled by the networks and mourned by those of as that loved them. Click the picture to watch my Top 10 One Season Wonder Show Countdown (plus a few honorable mentions), then scroll down to read Dave's picks - and be sure to let us know which ones you agree with - and if there are any you think we missed! ***UPDATE - I PUT THE VIDEO DIRECTLY HERE - THIS IS NOW A WEBSITE EXCLUSIVE LOL*** Dave -Everyone has one season wonders we loved and poured our heart and soul into before the network came along and crushed our hopes and dreams after the first season. Or, in some cases, after only a few episodes. These are some of the shows we liked the most that got the axe before they had time to bloom.
Trying not to ramble on too much. So a few brief honorable mentions to see if you remember them. "Snoops" (1999, ABC, Gina Gershon. not to be confused with the 1989 Tim Reid sitcom), "Tarzan" (2003, WB), "Nightmare Cafe" (1992, NBC), "Misfits of Science" (1985-1986, NBC) Dave Christy loves horror, music, documentaries and more. He is also the co-runner of several fan based groups including Morningstars (THE Lucifer fan group also run by Melanie), and now is a member of the VIPers Spotlight Lounge team for Melanie's Muses. Other than "In The Spotlight" Features -check out his "31 Days Of Halloween Movies"
|