‘Superdome’ on Blu-ray


Superdome is a 1978 TV movie with an amazing cast. David Janssen heads up the list of well-known actors of the time, with Donna Mills, Tom Selleck, Van Johnson, Ken Howard, Peter Haskell, Clifton Davis, Edie Adams, Ed Nelson, and Jane Wyatt adding to the impressive cast.

New Orleans is preparing for the Super Bowl. The Cougars is the favored team. While the preparations for the game are underway, mysterious deaths start happening. They are all related to the team.

With a killer on the loose, the team’s manager (Janssen) is trying to figure out what is going on, at the same time he is being wooed by a mysterious woman (Mills). The star quarterback (Selleck) is being courted by an advertising firm trying to get an endorsement. And another player (Howard) is having marital problems while at the same time confronting an early mid-life crisis. So, there is plenty of drama with the players and the management of the team while the big game gets closer and closer and the murders are mounting up.

The movie was filmed on location in New Orleans and at the Superdome itself. Unlike today’s movies where terrorism is at the root of the disasters, this is a movie where simple human greed is at the heart of the murders. A large bet on the outcome of the game is the reason for the murders and the plot against the Cougars.

Being a 1978 film, it is definitely simpler than today’s movies, but it is fun to see the hairstyles and clothing of the day. While Tom Selleck had been acting prior to this film, he was yet to become a household name. It was not until 1980 when he jumped into the Ferrari and took on the role of Thomas Magnum.

The lead actor, Janssen, was already a household name, having starred in the TV series’ Richard Diamond, Private Detective, The Fugitive, and Harry O. While women will undoubtedly be attracted to the Selleck character, it is Janssen who is the hunk of the film.

Superdome is not rated however it is not suitable for young kids as it involves murder, drugs, and adult content.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival 2020


The annual Food and Wine Festival at Disney California Adventure is in full swing. The delicious concoctions developed by the amazing chefs at the Disneyland Resort are definitely worth a trip down to Anaheim.

Pick up a Sip and Savor Pass ($56) for the ultimate and easiest way to try some of the delicious treats. Each Sip and Savor Pass has 8 tabs attached which can be exchanged at any of the Festival kiosks for one of the Food and Wine delicacies created for guests this year. No alcoholic beverages can be used with the Sip and Savor Pass, but there are plenty of other great beverages as well as food items to enjoy.

The various locations for the pass include: Nuts About Cheese, Uncork California, Golden Dreams, California Craft Brews, One in a Melon, Peppers Cali-Ente, LA Style, Avacado Time, Off the Cob, I (heart) Artichokes, Cluck-A-Doodle-Moo, Berry Patch, Garlic Kissed, Paradise Garden Grill, Fesstival Cart, Cappuccino Cart, and Hollywood Churro Cart. All of these locations as well their offerings are included on a plastic card with the Pass, to make things easy. Plus, you can order any or all of your treats at any location and collect your items when you are ready. That way you don’t have to stand in line each time at each kiosk to order and collect your food or beverage.

The entire festival honors California.

There is a Fried Chicken and Waffle Sandwich where the waffle acts like the shell of a taco with the chicken (along with a delicious cole slaw) tucked inside. There are nods to the California cheese and wine industries. And a Road Trip Mimosa Flight from Uncork California is an interesting way to try several different tasty mimosas, each honoring an area of the state. For the desert there is a Mojave Mimosa with raspberry syrup and peach juice, for the mountains there is the Sierra Mimosa with lavender and lemon juice, and for the ocean the Pacific Mimosa includes coconut, blue Curacao, and pineapple juice. You can order the trio (4 oz. each for $17) or a single larger drink ($15). My recommendation is to try the trio. Then later you can order the one you like the most.

And of course, there are plenty of sugary delights for everyone.

On a personal note…

I had an entire three-course meal and only used half of my tabs for dinner. I began with a scrumptious Artichoke Toast with California Olive Tapenade from I (Heart) Artichokes. I really wanted a second it was so delicious, but I decided to tackle another item. I headed for Peppers Cali-Ente for the Creamy Poblano Pepper Pasta. Oh my gosh! This was SPICY. But it was so tasty that I kept eating, even though my mouth and lips were burning and I felt a sweat break out on my face. Whooo. That was hot, but also very delicious. Now in need of something to cool me down I visited Off the Cobb for a fruity Farmstand Punch. That did the trick. It is definitely a step above any fruit punch I have ever had. Now to top off my meal I visited Berry Patch for the Oikos Greek Yogurt California Berries Summer Pudding. If you love berries you’ll enjoy this dessert. They take Brioche Bread soaked with Raspberry Puree, stuffed with Grand Marnier-infused Mixes berries, and finished with Oikos Greek Yogurt whipped cream, with fresh berries. This has a touch of alcohol that is not detectable.

The next day for lunch I treated myself to the Impossible Cheeseburger Mac & Cheese dish at Nuts About Cheese, and I also returned to On the Cob for another Farmstand Punch. With a few other treats here and there, my 8 tabs on my Sip and Savor Pass were definitely put to good use.

Besides the food and drink, there are cooking demonstrations for adults and kids. Check out the website for more information.

The Disney California Adventure Food and Wine Festival runs through April 21, 2020. Get your friends and family together for this once-a-year delight.

About the Reviewer

Francine Brokaw writes about products, books, travel, and entertainment. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘The Oscar’ now on Blu-ray

 

The 1966 film The Oscar was nominated for two Oscars (Best Art Direction and Best Costumes) but came away empty. The film is a gritty look inside the entertainment business.

Stephen Boyd plays Frank Fane, a ruthless street-smart man who claws his way to the top of the acting business. He was “discovered” by accident. When he moves to Hollywood he climbs the ladder however he has a reputation of being a difficult actor. His best friend Hymie (Tony Bennett) enables his actions and is his biggest supporter, even when he knows how despicable Fane is becoming.

Fane is a self-centered, egotistical, ruthless, conniving, greedy, dishonorable man. His wife (Elke Sommer) does not see this side of him. Yet she does take offense to his womanizing all around town.

His agent (Milton Berle) knows how difficult actors can be, but he has his hands full with this one. Fane thinks he can order everyone around and his demands are well over the top.

When he is at the bottom of his game he gets nominated for an Academy Award. This new attention energizes his greed and he will stop at nothing to get the Oscar.

An A-list cast makes this an interesting film. Jill St. John, Eleanor Parker, Joseph Cotton, Edie Adams, Ernest Borgnine, Ed Begley, Broderick Crawford, Walter Brennan, and Peter Lawford join Berle, Sommer, Bennett and Boyd in the muck of Hollywood. Hedda Hopper, Edith Head, Bob Hope, Frank Sinatra, Nancy Sinatra, and Merle Oberon appear as themselves to give the film a realistic tone.

The movie shows the greed and disregard for others by this callous man who steps on everyone on his way to the top. But will he actually make it to the top or will his heartless actions be the end of him?

This is an interesting look at Hollywood but a more entertaining film about the business is “Valley of the Dolls.” The cast in this film, however, is outstanding!

The Oscar is not rated. It is not suitable for kids.

‘Frozen II’ now on 4k


Frozen II is filled with music, magic, and mystery. Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, Sven, and Olaf are living fun and fulfilling lives in the castle. But Elsa is being haunted by a mysterious sound. She follows the sound and accidentally awakens a mysterious enchanted forest that has been locked in a mist for decades. Elsa and Anna heard about this mysterious place from their parents when they were little girls. Now they get the full understanding of what happened in the past and how their parents are entwined with this enchanted forest. Suddenly the fate of Arendelle is precarious and it is up to Elsa and Anna to save their country.

The story introduces many new characters as well as two new animals: a sweet and fun-loving little salamander that steals the hearts of audiences, and the Nokk, a beautiful water spirit iridescent horse that helps Elsa in her quest for the truth. The lost Arendelle guard, led by Mattias, and a whole new culture of people named the Northuldra. They care for the elements of fire, water, air, and earth. But there is one more element and that is what Elsa must discover.

There is also a wind spirit named Gale and a group of Earth giants. And let’s not forget about the herd of reindeer that also inhabit the enchanted forest. Along with the original five, all of these characters join together for a fun-filled journey through an enchanted land.

There is over an hour of bonus features that help viewers understand the background of the story and the making of the film. For instance, there are several deleted scenes and songs. They are in storyboard form however they are definitely worth watching. It would be fun to see them all completely animated. The songs and scenes are entertaining and enjoyable and although they did not make it into the film, they merit viewing.

Another bonus looks at the flubs made by the voice actors while recording their lines and songs. This also would be fun to see animated, but it takes too much time and money to animate these bloopers. Oh well, they are funny and cute.

“Did you know???” is a little featurette that reveals facts about the movie. The enchanted forest was based on the forest from Sleeping Beauty. The filmmakers did extensive research to make the flora in the forest reflective of the actual plants in Norway. There are plenty of Easter Eggs in the film that are examined so when viewers watch the film again, they will be able to spot references to other Disney characters and movies.

The 4K version includes the movie in beautiful ultra HD. If you are 4K compatible, definitely get this set. Along with the wider spectrum of color, it is the best way to watch this exquisitely animated film. Included in the set is a Blu-ray disc as well. There is a “sing-along” version of the movie so all viewers will be able to join Elsa, Anna, Kristoff, and the others in their journey. The Digital Code allows for instant online viewing and includes two additional bonus features. The songs always add to these films, and now viewers get to see the songwriting Robert and Kristen Anderson-Lopes, the team behind the memorable songs.

Frozen II is rated PG for action/peril and some thematic elements. It is available in the 4K set, a Blu-ray + DVD + Digital set, and a single DVD.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Run this Town’ is a gritty political story

In this time of political scandals, the one that took Toronto by storm was that of Mayor Ford. The now-disgraced former mayor is not really the main focus of the film Run this Town. Instead it revolves around an aspiring journalist and the Mayor’s aide who are each trying to further their respective careers.

Ben Platt is Bram, a young journalist who is eager to get his big break. He is tasked with writing lists for the newspaper, like the ten best hamburgers in the city, etc. But he is a good writer and knows if given the chance he could be a great journalist.

Mena Massoud is Kamal, the top aid to the mayor. He knows the mess the mayor is getting himself into, yet continues to do his job and even more than that.

When Bram comes across a story involving the flamboyant mayor, he wants to take it further. Is the mayor simply drunk at events or is it something more? Then another aid at City Hall, Ashley (Nina Dobrev), decides to confide in the journalist. Mayor Ford has continually made sexual comments and unwanted advances toward many people, and she feels enough is enough.

So, while Bram is breaking open the story with the assistance of the mayor’s aids, the lives of these young people are altered.

Sex and drugs make for a good story, but when it involves the mayor of a large Canadian city, it is something that has to be told to the public. Unlike the movie All the President’s Men, when Woodward and Bernstein (Robert Redford and Dustin Hoffman) broke the story about Nixon and his cronies, Run this Town is not as entertaining. Instead, it is grittier and darker.

This is a tense political story about young professionals trying to climb the ladder to success while at the same time exposing a terrible scandal causing the downfall of a mayor. 

Director Ricky Tollman said, “I grew up admiring groundbreaking filmmakers at a time when the filmmaking landscape, too, is shifting. There is endless content and it’s all available everywhere we go. I can’t browse through a Blockbuster anymore, though I wish I could. That was exciting. But that experience is over. My brother, on the other hand, dreamed of being a journalist like the ones he had read about. Of course, we overlapped with All the President’s Men — here was a film that had a deep impact on the social conscious about two great journalists.”

Run this Town is rated R for language and sexual references. It opens in theaters March 6, 2020.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

Bring home ‘Norm of the North: Family Vacation’ on DVD

The latest film in the Norm of the North franchise is definitely a family story. Norm of the North: Family Vacation has King Norm in a dither trying to find family time while taking care of his royal duties.

Norm is frustrated. He loves his role as king but he misses spending quality time with his family. And they miss him. The kids resent his role because he doesn’t have time to play with them any more.

While preparing for the winter jubilee in which the king must present his crown to the kingdom, it gets stolen. Who would steal the king’s crown? If word got out it would cause chaos in the kingdom. With some help from his new friend Tiny, a killer whale, Norm learns about an ice ship that was in the vicinity at the time of the theft. So, in true Norm fashion, he prepares to go after the ship, which is heading for China.

A misunderstanding has Norm’s family thinking they are all going on a family vacation, and Norm doesn’t want his kids to be disappointed. So off they go in search of the stolen crown without his family knowing the true reason for the trip.

They discover an amazing city built by an inventive White Tiger who invites the family to be his guest. His twins, Pete and Repete, are in the same boat as Norm’s kids. They don’t get enough time with their father. While the dads commiserate about how difficult it is to be a father, Norm finds his beloved crown.

The theme of this family adventure is finding a balance between job and family. While both of the fathers in the story have important roles, they also have kids that need quality family time. In the end everyone realizes the importance of family and togetherness.

Tiny is a fun character as are all the kids and Norm’s wife is also an entertaining and optimistic character.  This is the fourth film in the franchise.

Norm of the North: Family Vacation is not rated.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Magic Happens’ – Disneyland’s newest daytime parade

It has been 10 years since Disneyland produced a new daytime parade. “Magic Happens” is now running daily at the Disneyland Park and is filled with color, music, characters, and amazing floats.

The floats are sure to wow adults and the characters are definitely going to entertain kids. The Disney/Pixar stories represented in the parade are “The Sword in the Stone,” “Cinderella,” “Sleeping Beauty, “Frozen 2,” “Moana,” “Coco,” “Moana,” and “The Princess and the Frog.” 

Merlin and young Arthur ride upon “The Sword in the Stone” float where the young lad easily removes the famous sword from the stone to the cheers of the crowd. Tiana and Prince Naveen share a dance and a kiss on their beautifully designed “The Princess and the Frog” float. Flora, Fauna, and Merryweather appear atop the “Sleeping Beauty” float along with Princess Aurora in her gown with shades of blue and pink.The “Cinderella” float has both Cinderella in her grand pumpkin coach and the Fairy Godmother who is always eager to interact with the guests on the parade route. 

“Moana” is represented with three floats. First comes Moana in her life-size canoe followed by Maui’s float with Pua riding front and center. Then, to the joy of both young and old, a remote controlled HeiHei travels from one side of the street to the other, spinning and entertaining all the guests. The Moana float is a giant leap forward in the world of technology, utilizing a curved LED screen wave with images of the ocean (look closely for some fun Easter Eggs in the ocean scenery), and along the side of this magnificently carved Koa wood float are other LED screens immersing the crowd in underwater life.


The beautiful “Frozen 2” float has Elsa, Anna, and Olaf in the magic forest, while Sven stands on the back, followed closely by Kristoff. There is magic on this float combining the live characters with animated ones. After all, a live snowman and reindeer would be difficult to keep on a float even for the folks at Disney!

The “Coco” float tells the story of the Land of the Living and the Land of the dead. Miguel strums his guitar on the front of the float with Dante jumping from the land of the living to the land of the dead, bringing the story to the land of the dead with Miguel’s family in the afterlife. And for an added treat, the back of the float has 12 Chihuahua skeletons greeting the parade watchers.

There is so much more to this parade than the floats. There are dancers accompanying the floats adding more to the stories they tell. The dancers accompanying the “Moana” float carry Kakamora characters. Let’s face it, the folks at Disney always add just a little extra to everything they do!

“We’ve designed the ‘Magic Happens’ floats to that characters, scenes, and surprises are revealed a little at a time, making each float a journey of discovery,” said David Duffy, creative director for Disney Live Entertainment.” And every time guests see the floats they will discover something new and exciting because there is so much to see in each float.

There are over 90 performers in this grand parade with two new original songs – “Magic Happens” and a Grand Finale song that will leave everyone with a big smile as the parade completes its run through the park. And the brightly colored costumes along with the music are impressive for both young and old.

“Magic Happens” is a fun, new, colorful, whimsical parade that will definitely become a favorite among Disneyland guests. Magic is always happening at Disneyland, The Happiest Place on Earth, and this new parade adds even more magic.

(Joshua Sudock/Disneyland Resort)

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Onward’ is a fun, silly, and emotional family journey

Disney/Pixar’s newest animated film Onward takes audiences through a journey filled with fun as well as emotions. This is a fantasy story with magic however at the heart of the film is family love.

Tom Holland voices Ian Lightfoot and Chris Pratt voices his brother Barley, with their mother voiced by Julia Louis-Dreyfus. It is definitely Disney/Pixar magic to see the animated brothers because they look just like their human counterparts.

Ian is a squirrelly little guy with no self-confidence. Barley is a go-get-em guy who has no qualms about trying anything. Their father died before Ian was born so Ian has no memory of his dad and sad that he never knew him. Barley is a proficient game player, which comes in handy during their quest.

So, the story revolves not only around the elf brothers (did I forget to mention they are elfs?) but also around magic. Years ago magic was the way of life but as technology advanced and took over all the magic in the land ceased. But it is still there, somewhere.

Upon Ian’s 16th birthday, his mother gives her boys a gift from beyond. Before dying, the father wrote a spell that could conjure him up for one day so he could meet Ian and see how his boys had grown up. But the catch is someone has to have the magic powers – and the magic wizard staff – to complete the spell. While Barley tries, it is Ian who shows he has the magic deep within him. However, while conjuring up his dad, there is a little glitch and only half of the man comes back to life – the bottom half.

The boys embark on a magical journey to get the stone needed to complete the spell and bring back the full body of their father.

This is a sweet and sentimental story underneath the antics of the boys. It is an intriguing thought to be able to spend one day with a loved one who has passed on. Both boys have lists of what they want to do with their dad if he came back for a day. And during their quest to complete the spell, they learn more about each other in the 24 hours than they have in all of Ian’s 16 years.

Onward is a fun, fantasy, family adventure that is filled with delightful family love however it is a little bittersweet at the same time.


And once audiences leave the theater, youngsters will undoubtedly be asking for some Onward merchandise. Disney doesn’t disappoint.  There is a plush Ian, Barley, Blazy (their pet dragon), Wildon Lightfood (the father), unicorn, and Manticore (voiced by Octavia Spencer in the film). There are play sets and clothing and definitely a Wizard Staff, which all kids will want to own so they can practice their own magic. Check out shopDisney.com for these items after watching the movie.

Onward is rated PG for action/peril and some mild thematic elements. It opens in theaters March 6, 2020.

About the Author

Francine Brokaw has been covering all aspects of the entertainment industry for over 25 years. She also writes about products and travel. She has been published in national and international newspapers and magazines as well as Internet websites. She has written her own book, Beyond the Red Carpet The World of Entertainment Journalists, from Sourced Media Books, is the entertainment correspondent for Good Day Orange County, and has her own TV show, Beyond the Red Carpet, on Village Television in Orange County. Follow her on Twitter.

‘Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist’ is an emotional journey of a self-conscious introvert where she has to learn about empathy

Time does not heal the pain of grief. What does? Austin Winsberg just might have the answer. NBC’s new quirky musical dramedy, Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist, is based on his painful experience of losing his father to a rare degenerative disease in 2011. At a press conference early January, Winsberg explained the family’s pain and frustration of not being able to communicate with him. “He would show us moments and we felt like his brain was working, but the body was betraying him.” He also revealed that the show “came from wanting to see my dad sing and dance and see my parents dance again.”

After an MRI mishap, Zoey Clarke (Jane Levy) becomes privy to the innermost wants, thoughts, and desires of the people around her through popular songs and big musical numbers. The computer coder sees the world in very binary terms and is uncertain what to do with the newfound power until she starts connecting with people. Could it be a blessing or a curse? And why her? Just like Eli (Eli Stone ABC 2008-09) and Joan (Joan of Arcadia CBS 2003-05) who struggled to figure out what God wanted them to do, Zoey is thrust into an emotional journey where she has to learn about empathy.

I lost my husband twice – once to depression and to divorce. His inward anger turned him into a soulless semblance of the sweet man I married. He was physically there, but emotionally and mentally unreachable no matter how hard I tried. If that wasn’t the most soul-crashing moment of my entire life, I don’t know what is. How I wished my suicidal husband would snap out of his depression, just like Zoey did with her unresponsive father! That beautiful father-daughter scene gets me every time because my pain is honored; it felt like being wrapped in a warm blanket and gently and repeatedly told, “It hurts, I get it.” When you know you are not alone in feeling angry/sad/disappointed/frustrated, you process a loss and heal with every drop of tears you shed. Empathy heals. Empathy neither judges, condemns, nor convinces.

I believe empathy is gained only when you learn radical self-acceptance through great losses – to be more compassionate toward the unforgivable parts of your Self. In this digital and highly divisive off-kilter world, it is inspiring to watch this self-conscious introvert growing into a compassionate leader. In the aftermath of Trumpocalypse, we might as well brush up on human decency gone missing from our society. Why not start with this almost extinct, foreign concept called ‘empathy’?

Zoey’s Extraordinary Playlist premiered over a month ago, but the encore presentation of the pilot is scheduled on Sunday, February 16, 2020, followed by the second episode at the regularly scheduled time on NBC. You can also check out NBC On Demand or Hulu for the pilot if you can’t wait.

About the Author

Meg Mimura is a TV critic who actually watches shows zealously in search of thought-provoking and paradigm shifting human drama worth our precious time. She is a member of Television Critics Association. Follow her on Twitter.

‘High Strung Free Dance’ Blu-ray GIVEAWAY


High Strung Free Dance tells the story of Zander Raines (Thomas Doherty), a dazzling and tempestuous young choreographer who gives the break of a lifetime to two hopeful artists when he casts a stunning contemporary dancer, Barlow (Juliet Doherty) and innovative pianist, Charlie (Harry Jarvis) in New York’s most-anticipated new Broadway show: Free Dance.  But the move throws off the show’s delicate creative balance when Charlie falls hard for Barlow while Zander embraces her as his muse.

The film brings together groundbreaking original music with an expansive mix of choreography from Emmy award winner Tyce Diorio (So You Think You Can Dance) alongside 80 of the world’s most thrilling and original dancers.

We have some Blu-rays to giveaway.

To be eligible to win a copy of High Strung Free Dance, email us at [email protected] with “Free Dance Giveaway” in the title. Please supply your name, address, phone number and email address (so we can let you know if you are a winner). Note: only USA and Canada entries please.

The deadline for this giveaway is February 14, 2020.