Electoral Dysfunction — A New Documentary from Mo Rocca

Posted on October 28, 2013 at 3:59 pm

Election day is coming next week, and Mo Rocca (“The Daily Show,” “CBS Sunday Morning,” “Wait, Wait…Don’t Tell Me”) has a new documentary about the state of elections in today’s America, with the backdrop of the 2008 Presidential election.  Rocca set out on a road trip to see how voting works – and doesn’t work. He heads to Indiana, home to (then) some of the strictest election laws in the country, and meets Democrat Mike Marshall and Republican Dee Dee Benkie, who take him inside their efforts to get out every vote. As he progresses on his journey, Mo searches for the Electoral College; investigates the heated battle over Voter ID and voter fraud; critiques ballot design with fashion mogul Todd Oldham; and explores the case of a former felon who was sentenced to ten years in prison—for the crime of voting. Irreverent, engaging and nonpartisan (and selected for viewing at the conventions of both major parties), this documentary is for voters across the political spectrum who want their votes to count.

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Documentary Politics

The Thundermans — Download a Free Episode of Nickekodeon’s New Series

Posted on October 28, 2013 at 8:00 am

Nickelodeon’s new series “The Thundermans” begins this week and you can download an episode for free from iTunes.  It’s the story of a superhero family, twins Max and Phoebe, their younger siblings Nora and Billy, and their parents Hank and Barb.  The twins partake in a little sibling rivalry when Max plans to sabotage his sister’s dinner party, when they compete against each other in the Math Bowl, and when a prank war breaks out. The twins eventually start to work together as a pesky plant takes over the house, and they get into some ditch day trouble at school. Max must create a clone of Phoebe when she has to be in too many places at once, the twins help each other fill a big order at their new pizza parlor jobs, and much more.  Watch this super family work together to use their extraordinary powers to create an ordinary life.

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Television

Tribute: Marcia Wallace

Posted on October 27, 2013 at 11:24 pm

The brave, beautiful, and very funny actress Marcia Wallace has died at age 70 after a long battle with breast cancer.  I loved her as the receptionist on the old “Bob Newhart Show” and as a guest on 70’s game shows and talk shows, where her wit and impeccable comic timing made her a stand-out.  She won an Emmy for providing the voice of Mrs. Krabappel, the sarcastic teacher with the world’s most impossible fourth-grade student on “The Simpsons.”  When she was first diagnosed with cancer, she became a spokeswoman for those struggling with the disease and an advocate for education and research.  Her book, Don’t Look Back, We’re Not Going That Way is subtitled: “How I overcame a rocky childhood, a nervous breakdown, breast cancer, widowhood, fat, fire and menopausal motherhood and still manage to count my lucky chickens.” A lot of us counted her among our luckiest chickens, and she will be missed.

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Actors Tribute

Monstrous Holiday: New Halloween Movie For Kids

Posted on October 27, 2013 at 3:24 pm

In Monsterous Holiday a young inventor named Andy reaches out to his neighbor Doctor Frankenstein to help him win the upcoming science fair. But, finding the Doctor not to be at home, he meets the next best thing, Frankenstein’s monster; who turns out to be a teenager like himself. While Frankenstein takes Andy’s place on the football team, Andy uses Frankenstein’s knowledge and lab to find an invention for the fair. But when he inadvertently creates a monster of his own, they must work together to save the town and Halloween.

I have a copy to give away! Send me an email at moviemom@moviemom.com with “Monstrous” in the subject line and tell me what you’re wearing this Halloween. Don’t forget your address! I’ll pick a winner on November 2. Good luck! (US addresses only)

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Animation Holidays
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