Random Thoughts
August 30th, 2017 by Proprietor
Brady Stuff
Running out of Brady posting ideas. Though I found it extremely fun, and really amazing how much a snarky view can change the show, and yield an incredible amount of treasure to dig up for blog purposes, it has become damn hard to come up with something.
Game of Thrones
OK. I read a ton of spoilers about season 7. The revelation that Jon Snow is a Targaryen, and thus the nephew of Daenerys was not overly surprising. Though I had hoped maybe the reason his lineage was being kept secret was due to his being the son of Robert Baratheon. Also the incest by accident event that took place is not really that shocking. Cerci and Jamie were getting it on in the first episode of the first season, and made no bones about, actually made a lot of bones in terms of dead, their relationship.
Having watched trailers and footage of the foreshortened season, and reading a lot of spoilers, I am actually jazzed to see the show on DVD when it comes out. The release target date is in January 2018. So, about five months from now, and that means I will have forgotten some of the spoilers.
That is the odd thing, I am a person who does not care about spoilers and feel people who are upset if you tell them something about a show are being silly. How does that spoil anything? You know what happens, but do you want to see how the producers, directors and actors made it come about? That is why I want to see Game of Thrones season 7. In spite of some of the incept whining by fans about certain aspects, and the shocking ending revealed. I want to see the magic happen for myself. Then wait another year for season 8 to come out on DVD to see the final of the season.
Football Season
This is coming up quick, and already it looks to be another stupid year of rich, entitled athletes telling us how wrong we are. Yeah. Wrong for spending money on jerseys, wrong for allowing our tax dollars be used to finances stadiums where the athletes have bully pulpits to preach. Against my will, I am contributing to these dictators in jock straps whom can use their private bathrooms, but tell us a sex separated bathroom system is wrong. How about a class separated bathroom system? How is that not wrong?
Twitter Account
Set one up, began tweeting, actually enjoying it more than Facebook or other social media. For now.
Postings
I realized I am a bit dumb when it comes to posting on social accounts in regards to my web comic. For years, I just posted a link. Then it dawned on me. Post the comic and a link. Some people might come to the site, read more, and enjoy if there was something visual for them to look at, rather than a link and some words. Hope this self revelation does not damage career opportunities. Forgive me. I might have learned how to do websites and build them, but my social media savvy is neophyte.
Changing Directions
Once I write something, it usually irks me to rewrite. Though I will change wording on the fly while putting together the web comic, I seldom deviate from the planned out story lines. I did this with Gorilla Fish, and at times, I realized I might have been mistaken. Yet, I am doing it with Kid Spider. The ending of the first story line is coming soon. I had written twenty comic strips for the next story line, and then another twenty or so for the following story line. After reviewing the next story line, I decided to scrap it. Scrapping does not mean I tossed it into the trash, hit empty, and it is gone. I just gathered up all the files, put them in a folder, and put the folder in a possible future stories folder.
My organization skills are awesome, but confusing to some. Sometimes confusing to me. I know I have a file, but where did I put it? Yet, I preach ABCs and 123s as being the best way to organize.
Then I wrote a new story line for the second story line. It is better, I feel, brings back a character from the old BagBoy days I had liked, but had not dealt with yet, whether in Gorilla Fish or Kid Spider. It introduces a new character and ally as well for Kid Spider. It also ties well into the third story line.
Thanks for stopping by.
Edited: September 2, 2017 to fix some errors in spelling.
Architect Partner Politician
August 27th, 2017 by Proprietor
Mike Brady was an architect, his job at an unnamed architectural firm featured prominently in some episodes. His boss was, Ed Phillips, but it was also revealed to be a Mr. Matthews who was the owner, so the firm could be Phillips/Matthews Architectural Firm. During the series, Mike’s job was featured or sub plotted into stories.
The Brady house was supposed to be one built by Mike. Why an architect would build a house with only one bathroom for six kids escapes some people’s logic, but let’s face it, with no toilet, the bathroom was not going to be a focus of the series. There was also the evolving attic which somehow went from being fit for little people to becoming Greg’s room.
The first time Mike’s career was somewhat a part of a story was when Marcia nominated Mike for Father of the Year. She was caught with her sisters in his den, spilling white out and damaging some designs or notes, but Mike showed why he was father of the year, by only assigning her extra chores. Eventually Marcia keeping a secret ended up amping up the punishments, and Marcia was willing to suffer them. It all had a happy ending with Mike winning, and forgiving his daughter.
Two episodes later, a whole show revolved around Mike having to deal with a difficult client, Beebe Gallini. A cosmetic producer who wanted a pink factory, then one shaped like a powder puff with a roof that opened. Yes, the woman was difficult, and mMike had to put up with the woman, until his kids squirted her with water. Mike kept his job.
Mike was willing to get Greg a job, one of the man nepotistic and well connected jobs Greg would get, as an office boy. Unfortunately Greg made a major mistake, and lost his job. Only to regain it, when Mike stepped up for his son.
Mike must have been a valued architect, since he was sent to Hawaii, and could take his family with him. The three part story was the beginning of season four, and for the first time, every red blooded boy could drool over Marcia and Jan in bikinis.
Greg would end up more involved with his father’s profession when he wrote an essay for school, and through Alice, Mike read the glowing essay about Greg wanting to become an architect like his father. Greg confessed to Marcia he only wrote the essay because he had to for school, and had hoped no one would read it, except his teacher. Mike was so overwhelmed with pride, he began buying Greg equipment and letting him design buildings. Greg was so terrible at it he hoped Mike would relent, but Mike did not give up. Eventually Greg began designing even more bizarre buildings, and finally Mike had to tell Greg he was not cut out to be an architect. Greg finally confessed he had no real interest in being one.
Mike would be sent to King’s Island to deliver some sketches and designs for a new part that his firm was bidding to handle. It was the only episode where the older Brady daughters were discussing baby sitting work. Mike allowed Jan to put a poster in a tube to protect it, and almost lost the bid when he switch tubes with Jan. Brady’s to the rescue. All worked out well.
As the show wound down, Cousin Oliver was brought in, and it was Oliver’s over enthusiasm that cause Mike to smash a model of a building he was designing. Soon Mike’s den became a focus of various nefarious plots. Bobby and Oliver suspected Sam was a spy, and overheard Sam plotting with Mike. The reality, Mike being a good man, was designing some rough plans for Sam to expand his Butcher Shop.
In another episode with Cousin Oliver, Cindy was back to being a snoop. Marcia decided to plot with Jan to teach Cindy a lesson by insinuating a talent agent was coming over to check Cindy out as a possible stand in for Shirley Temple. Turns out Mike’s difficult client was the butt of a joke, but because Cindy was so adorable, the woman was reminded of childhood memories, and agreed to Mike’s sketches. The client was a Gilligan’s Island cast member Natalie Schafer, who played Mrs. Howell, and it would soon be Mr. Howell’s turn to be victim of a Brady scam.
The final episode with Mike Brady and his architecture firm revolved around the Brady’s getting a pool table delivered as a reward for some good work he had done. Probably landed the King’s Island contract. The pool table was from Mike’s boss, and Mike decided to invite his boss, played by Jim Backus, who played Mr. Howell on Gilligan’s Island, over for dinner and playing pool. As is with all Brady events, things spiraled out of control, and soon Mike had half the architectural firm over. All the men graciously lost to their boss, since none wanted to lose their job. Bobby undisciplined, ended up beating Mike’s boss. Then Bobby, asked if he could play. Turned out Bobby was a hustler, and had already beaten everyone in the family. With the ever present Driscoll’s Toy Box, Bobby began to clear the table.
Mike’s co-workers warned Mike about possible repercussion of Bobby winning. Even recommended breaking Bobby’s arm, but Mike did no such thing. Bobby ended up winning over 100 packs of gum, and Mike donated the pool table to a charity. Then Mike disappeared from the series forever. Wild speculative conspiracy theories abound, but Mike returned in the spin offs and movies.
In the spin off shows and movies, Mike became a senior partner at the firm, and eventually took it over. When he decided to run for politics, Jan came back and ran the firm. For some reason none of the boys wanted to be architects, but Jan did. In the end, the house that Mike built was demolished for a new freeway. The Brady posse rallied to fight it, Mike launched a political career, and that was the end of it. In the movies Mike’s political career spun into him being president of the United States.
Thanks for stopping by.
Nostalgia
August 23rd, 2017 by Proprietor
Taking a break from my usually Brady centric postings. I have to do some more thinking about some other misguided missives and misinterpretations or creative interpretations of events in the show.
Nostalgia is a funny thing. This desire to recapture fond childhood memories by either reclaiming touchstones or recreating moments is strong. The hopes that something will bring you that same sense of joy and wonderment now, that it brought back when you were a child. Sometimes it does, sometimes the sweet memories of childhood are best left to themselves.
Television shows are odd. Unlike a photograph, the show had a certain meaning to you when you first saw it. If the show was a wonderful show, and you have fond memories, reviewing that show is something you desire to do. Unfortunately shows that were part of your childhood tend to be viewed with the naiveté or undisciplined eye of a child. Some will stand the test of time. Some will make you wonder, why did you like it as a child? Well you were a child when you viewed the show.
In the recent past, I started acquiring DVD or Blu-Ray collections of past shows I enjoyed as a child, even young adult. I have downloads of shows I enjoyed 10 years ago. The shows I enjoyed as a child, have been running the gambit between bringing back that nostalgia to damagingly disappointing. The shows that disappoint, I have to let go, and realize, I was a child. The shows that stood the test of time, I am happy to retain, maybe viewing them again sometime in the near future.
Some shows, I have been able to view on some of the off channels, the ones that are filled with just syndicated shows. Some of the channels specialize in old television reruns. Watching those old shows still brings back some of the fond memories, but make me realize, I am better off not acquiring those DVD & Blu-Ray sets.
Thanks for stopping by.
Den Of Justice
August 20th, 2017 by Proprietor
If there was one room in the Brady household where important matters were settled, and Mike meted out his wise discipline and justice, it was the den. The den was more than just a place were Mike worked on his drafts at home, it was a place where Carol would go for her quite time, and the children sometimes went to get away. Most of the time the children violated the rules.
Throughout the seasons of the Brady Bunch, the den figured into many events. In the episode “Father of the Year” the Brady family was just growing together, the girls were getting used to Mike as a father, but Marcia already recognized that they had a good man. Marcia decided to nominate Mike for a father of the year award. She violated bedtime, because the entry date was close, caught by Jan and Cindy, the girly fight ensued, and Mike’s plans were ruined. Mike met with Marcia and gave her a suspended sentence.
The boys, broke a lamp in the den while playing ball in the house, and Alice ended up having to tell Mrs. Brady, when she discovered the bad repair job, which almost caused Alice to leave the family. She took a job as a waitress, but was coerced back.
Greg wanted to be a man in the second season, have a place of his own, and Mike, relented to letting Greg covert the den from Danish Modern to American Disaster. Except for the battle over the attic, this was the only time Greg wanted a place of his own.
Eventually the den would play second fiddle to the family room, as it seemed like the family would begin getting advice from Mike and Carol while they lounged, drinking coffee, and reading the paper. Even the kitchen began getting more use, since you could hold baking contests or do cooking comedy.
Dancing rehearsals and major get together were held in the living room. Cake and parties in the dining area of the living room, brought the family together. This left the humble den in the dust.
Even though the den became a place where Mike and Carol could discuss family business, and sometimes meet with the children one on one, the den eventually lost it’s place as Mike’s personal courtroom. It would begin to play the role of his personal workspace more, in the final season Mike would meet with Sam to redesign his butcher shop, and launch a great spy caper for Bobby, and Cousin Oliver.
In the spin off movies and television shows, the den made very rare appearances, becoming a secondary bedroom for guests most of the time, as well as the easiest place for someone to break into the Brady house. Marcia and her husband sent one of their children through the window of the den to let them in. He was apprehended by Alice, whom was back to living with the Brady’s because Sam cheated on her. But, in true Brady comedy fashion, it ended up being overplayed, and Alice was reunited with Marcia, and her family.
Thanks for stopping by.
Martinelli’s Bike Shop
August 16th, 2017 by Proprietor
Though it was not the haven for Brady child labor that Sam’s Butcher Shop or Haskell’s Ice Cream Parlor were, Martinelli’s did have a part in Brady Bunch history and employment of one Peter Brady.
Throughout the Brady Bunch series at one point or another, the four oldest children, Greg, Peter, Marcia, and Jan sought gainful employment. Though it was Peter whom gained the first job not acquired through connections or favoritism that seemed to be the M.O. of Greg. It was through sheer grit and determination that the hero of Driscoll’s Toy Shop managed to become employed at a bicycle shop as a repair man.
It was obvious to Mr. Martinelli, that Peter was a good guy, just not very skilled. Peter’s enthusiasm outweighed his competence. In Peter’s mind, he was the greatest bicycle repair man on the planet, though he was the worst. Though it did not stop Bobby and Cindy from trying to capitalize on Peter’s prestige, and attempting to set up a side bicycle repair business. Lucky for them Peter was insulted, rather than flattered, and loyal to his employer.
Peter like any new worker excited about being employed thought further into the future. Peter wanted to be a salesman, and thus began pushing his parents into possibly buying new bicycles. Unfortunately Mr. Martinelli fired Peter. Rather than confess the truth to Carol and Mike, Peter sort of distorted the truth. Peter told his parents he was promoted, and not fired. To celebrate Peter’s promotion the family had a cookout complete with cake.
In an attempt to cover for his lie, Peter returned to Mr. Martinelli in an attempt to at least regain his old job. Except, his parents decided to show up and purchase new bicycles. Peter bolted, and rather than lie to cover for Peter, Mr. Martinelli told the truth. Peter was forgiven, and the Brady family rode off into the sunset on bicycles.
Though the experience of Martinelli’s Bike Shop would have ramifications on Peter’s work ethic in the future. Great to be enthusiastic, but only due the minimum necessary to stay employed, and take advantage of all the benefits you can.
Thanks for stopping by.