FCC Tells Advertisers To Stop Yelling

Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:46 pm

The Federal Communications Commission is announcing new rules today to address one of the most frequent viewer complaints — the volume of commercials. If it feels like the commercials are louder than the programs, that is because they are. Last year, Congress passed the CALM Act (Commercial Advertisement Loudness Mitigation Act), and today’s rules will give television channels a year to comply.

USA Today reports:

“I never characterized this as saving the Union,” says Rep. Anna Eshoo, D-Calif., the original sponsor of the bill. “But consumers have been asking for it. We may not have peace in the world, but we may have more peaceful homes.”

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Television

Avoid the ‘Nagging Nine’ and Over-Advertised Toys

Posted on December 13, 2011 at 2:33 pm

The Campaign for a Commercial-Free Childhood has released their annual list of the toys that most outrageously over-advertise to children. These are the products that clutter the channels most watched by children and the CCFC recommends parents not reward their efforts by buying their products.

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Advertising Marketing to Kids

Period of Adjustment — Tonight on Turner Classic Movies

Posted on December 13, 2011 at 12:46 pm

Tennessee Williams’ only comedy is this neglected gem of a movie about two couples at Christmas. It has never been available on DVD so your only chance to see it is tonight on Turner Classic Movies.

It stars a very young Jane Fonda as a nurse who impulsively marries her favorite patient, a Korean War veteran (Jim Hutton) who is still struggling with what today we might call post-traumatic stress. He tries to cover up his nervousness with a lot of bluster and instead of a romantic honeymoon she finds herself driving with him in a hearse to visit his best Army buddy (Tony Franciosa), who is having his own marital problems, in large part due to his interfering father-in-law, who is also his boss. Three of the 1960’s finest character actors fill out the cast, including John McGiver and, in a rare appearance together, Jack and Mabel Albertson (real-life brother and sister).

It is a bittersweet comedy about endearing characters and it is nice to see some Tennessee Williams characters show some generosity, sweetness, and hope. The reconciliation of the two couples is genuinely touching and it is a wonderful holiday treat for those looking for something a little different.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q4tR0G03240

Simon, Theodore, and….Alvin: “Christmas Don’t Be Late”

Posted on December 13, 2011 at 8:00 am

As the latest Chipmunks movie opens up this week, we remember how it all got started, with the Grammy-winning 1958 song, “Christmas Don’t Be Late:”

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=917SpFHHUU0&feature=related

The singing chipmunks were created by songwriter Ross Bagdasarian, who had appeared in the Alfred Hitchcock movie, “Rear Window” (as the piano player across the courtyard, playing one of his own compositions) and had some success as the co-writer of the Rosemary Clooney hit, “Come On-a My House” and writer/performer of the novelty song, “The Witch Doctor.” He came up with the idea of recording songs at high speeds to make the voices sound amusingly squeaky. The 1958 song “Christmas Don’t Be Late” was his first chipmunks recording and he played Dave and did all the voices, naming the three chipmunks after record executives. Later recordings used women’s voices. His son, Ross Bagdasarian Jr., is now responsible for bringing Alvin, Simon, Theodore and their long-suffering manager Dave to a new generation.

Twelve Christmas Movies That Don’t Feature Tiny Tim, Linus, Bing Crosby, the Grinch, Clarence the Angel, or a Leg Lamp

Posted on December 12, 2011 at 3:58 pm

I love the Christmas classic movies and watch as many as I can every year. But there are many great Christmas films that don’t get mentioned as often and I like to remind families that these are worth making time for as well.

1. The Nativity Story This sincere and respectful story is a good way to remember that Christmas is about more than presents and parties. “Whale Rider’s” Keisha Castle-Hughes has a shy but dignified and resolute air and she glows believably as the very young woman who is selected as the mother of Jesus. And “Drive’s” Oliver Isaac effectively conveys tenderness, doubt, courage, and transcendence as Joseph.

2. A Christmas Memory Truman Capote’s bittersweet memory of his childhood Christmas making fruitcakes with his elderly cousin, the only relative who cared about him is beautifully filmed with the magnificent Geraldine Page and Capote himself reading the narration.

3. Will Vinton’s Claymation Christmas The California Raisins guys put together this Christmas special, with the highlight the funniest-ever performance of “Carol of the Bells.”

4. Come to the Stable Loretta Young and Celeste Holm are French nuns trying to raise money to build a hospital. Their faith and goodness transforms those they meet.

5. Little Women “Christmas won’t be Christmas without any presents” is the first line of this classic novel based on the loving if sometimes tumultuous family of author Louisa May Alcott. The movie opens with an important Christmas lesson about the joy of giving.

6. The Best Christmas Pageant Ever Based on the classic book, this stars Loretta Swit as the mother of six rambunctious kids who insist on playing roles in the church pageant.

7. This Christmas I love this movie about a family with five adult children who return home to celebrate Christmas with their mother and youngest brother. The outstanding cast includes Regina King, Idris Elba, Loretta Devine, and Chris Brown. Be sure to watch through the credits to see a great dance number.

8. Desk Set Before Google, companies had human beings to track down information. Katherine Hepburn plays the head of the all-female research department for a television network and Spencer Tracy is the engineer who is installing the company’s first computer, which takes up a whole wall and uses punch cards and vacuum tubes. Sparks fly — and not just in the equipment.

9. Die Hard Bruce Willis plays a cop visiting his estranged wife at her office Christmas party when the building is taken over by bad guys led by Alan Rickman in this action-movie classic.

10. The Polar Express Tom Hanks stars in this animated story based on the book by Chris Van Allsburg about a magical train ride to the North Pole.

11. Home Alone This comedy smash hit stars Macauley Culkin as a little boy who is accidentally left home when his family goes away for the holidays and has to take care of himself and guard the house from a couple of inept thieves. The slapstick is a bit over the top but the message of Christmas is surprisingly touching.

12. Annie The story of the plucky orphan from the comic pages became one of the biggest Broadway musicals of all time and one of its highlights is Christmas with Daddy Warbucks.