Wednesday, May 01, 2002

Since it premiered a few months back, I've been trying to put my finger on why Cartoon Network's Justice League just hasn't grabbed me the way I'd expected it would. After all, JL showrunner Paul Dini was one of the major forces behind the outstanding Batman and Superman cartoons of the 90's, and many of the creators from those two endeavors joined him in creating this one. Despite that, the new cartoon hasn't quite lived up to its promise.

First-time TeeVee columnist Nathan Alderman has been kind enough to figure it out for me. Nice job, rookie. Take a bow.
12:38 AM  < To return to this entry, save this link

Tuesday, April 30, 2002

According to a report on my local NBC affiliate tonight, Stephen Sondheim is contemplating the idea of a musical based on the film Groundhog Day, one of my favorite movies of all time. Sounds like a perfect marriage of creator and material to me, and I'd love to see this one come off.

It wouldn't be the first instance of Sondheim playing with temporal mechanics. Merrily We Roll Along, one of his less well-received works, follows its three main characters through their lives backwards. I've not seen it before, but I will get the chance this summer when the Kennedy Center puts it on as part of its Sondheim Celebration. So I guess I should withhold judgment on whether or not the Groundhog Day thing is a good idea until I see Merrily.

Or maybe I already have...

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A quick update on last night's tornado entry: I have word from reliable sources (my parents) that while other nearby buildings were either severely damaged or totally destroyed, the Port Tobacco Players Theater lost only the glass from two of its lobby doors and a single letter off the marquee.

While their current production probably won't go on this coming weekend, the Players will go on as an organization. Even though it's been over a decade since I trod those particular boards, it still makes me glad to know PTP will continue strong as ever for the foreseeable future.
12:29 AM  < To return to this entry, save this link

Monday, April 29, 2002

A powerful tornado hit La Plata, Maryland around 7 yesterday evening. Local news coverage showed scenes of severe damage to the town. Normally, such images wouldn't interest me much, but this time I've got a personal connection to the place.

The tornado touched down very near the Port Tobacco Players Theater, the place where I started doing community theater nearly fifteen years ago. So far I've heard no mention of damage to the theater, and I'm hoping that no news is good news. Still, if good ol' PTP was hit, I may just have to head on down there and do what I can to help get the place back on its feet.
1:00 AM  < To return to this entry, save this link