Harriet Halpern Beck, an entertainment attorney who specialized in children’s programming during her long career, died Friday, Nov. 26 after a long ilnness.
As the VP of business affairs at Ruby Spears Productions in the 1980s, she played a pivotal role in shaping the Saturday morning children’s television universe, helping to build the company into one of the main suppliers of network animated content, including Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mr. T, Rambo, Punky Brewster, Dragon’s Lair and Rubik, the Amazing Cube.
Beck began her career in show business in 1975 as a legal secretary for producer Dino DeLaurentis. She enrolled in law school at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, attending at night while working and raising her son as a single mother.
During her time as a legal secretary and student, she worked for various firms that specialized in the music business, handling clients that included Fleetwood Mac. She...
As the VP of business affairs at Ruby Spears Productions in the 1980s, she played a pivotal role in shaping the Saturday morning children’s television universe, helping to build the company into one of the main suppliers of network animated content, including Alvin and the Chipmunks, Mr. T, Rambo, Punky Brewster, Dragon’s Lair and Rubik, the Amazing Cube.
Beck began her career in show business in 1975 as a legal secretary for producer Dino DeLaurentis. She enrolled in law school at Loyola Marymount University in Los Angeles, attending at night while working and raising her son as a single mother.
During her time as a legal secretary and student, she worked for various firms that specialized in the music business, handling clients that included Fleetwood Mac. She...
- 12/2/2021
- by Bruce Haring
- Deadline Film + TV
Andy Heyward’s Genius Brands has acquired Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media in a deal valued at $53 million.
Wow! brings to Genius a busy content operation that has produced mostly children’s programming for such outlets as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock and studios such as Sony, Dreamworks, Moonbug and Mattel. Wow! also is home to the Channel Frederator Network, a streaming platform for animation creators. That will pair nicely under the Genius umbrella with its existing Kartoon Channel service.
Wow! said it had earnings of $5.1 million during the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021 on revenue of $56.4 million. The deal is a mixture of cash and stock. Genius also emphasized the importance of Wow!’s status as a Canadian firm in making the most of the country’s generous production incentives.
“The acquisition of Wow! substantially accelerates the financial growth of Genius Brands, delivering on our...
Wow! brings to Genius a busy content operation that has produced mostly children’s programming for such outlets as Netflix, Amazon Prime, Hulu and Peacock and studios such as Sony, Dreamworks, Moonbug and Mattel. Wow! also is home to the Channel Frederator Network, a streaming platform for animation creators. That will pair nicely under the Genius umbrella with its existing Kartoon Channel service.
Wow! said it had earnings of $5.1 million during the 12-month period from July 2020 to June 2021 on revenue of $56.4 million. The deal is a mixture of cash and stock. Genius also emphasized the importance of Wow!’s status as a Canadian firm in making the most of the country’s generous production incentives.
“The acquisition of Wow! substantially accelerates the financial growth of Genius Brands, delivering on our...
- 10/27/2021
- by Cynthia Littleton
- Variety Film + TV
Genius Brands International has agreed to buy Canadian animation production house Wow! Unlimited Media for roughly $53 million in cash and stock.
Beverly Hill-based Genius and Vancouver-based Wow are publicly traded on, respectively, the Nasdaq and Toronto exchanges and shares of both were trending higher Wednesday morning.
Genius Brands CEO Andy Heyward said the merger will substantially accelerate financial growth and expansion in the global children’s entertainment market. The deal provides it access to various Canadian federal and provincial tax credits, which will allow Genius Brands to transfer its current animation production from China at great savings, he said.
Wow productions includes Adventure Time, FairlyOdd Parents, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Castlevania (Frederator Studios) and Madagascar – a Little Wild, Barbie Dreamhouse (Mainframe Studios). Its CEO Michael Hirsh’s track record includes the first Star Wars animated programs, Magic School Bus, Care Bears, Babar, Johnny Test, and Beetlejuice, among others.
Wow also...
Beverly Hill-based Genius and Vancouver-based Wow are publicly traded on, respectively, the Nasdaq and Toronto exchanges and shares of both were trending higher Wednesday morning.
Genius Brands CEO Andy Heyward said the merger will substantially accelerate financial growth and expansion in the global children’s entertainment market. The deal provides it access to various Canadian federal and provincial tax credits, which will allow Genius Brands to transfer its current animation production from China at great savings, he said.
Wow productions includes Adventure Time, FairlyOdd Parents, Powerpuff Girls, Dexter’s Laboratory, Castlevania (Frederator Studios) and Madagascar – a Little Wild, Barbie Dreamhouse (Mainframe Studios). Its CEO Michael Hirsh’s track record includes the first Star Wars animated programs, Magic School Bus, Care Bears, Babar, Johnny Test, and Beetlejuice, among others.
Wow also...
- 10/27/2021
- by Jill Goldsmith
- Deadline Film + TV
This story about “Ted Lasso” first appeared in the Down to the Wire issue of TheWrap’s awards magazine.
On the surface a fish-out-of-water comedy about a Midwestern football coach who’s hired to take over a struggling soccer team on the outskirts of London even though he has no experience with the sport, AppleTV’s “Ted Lasso” ends up being a lot more than that. The show, which set an Emmy record for a first-year comedy series by racking up 20 nominations, is in some ways gloriously optimistic and sunny, but it also stares down loss and depression as it dares to find tenderness and forgiveness. It’s a foul-mouthed comedy but also an open-hearted testament to healing, and a welcome balm in tough times.
The week of the Season 2 premiere, seven of the cast members sat down with TheWrap to talk about the show. The roster: Jason Sudeikis, co-creator,...
On the surface a fish-out-of-water comedy about a Midwestern football coach who’s hired to take over a struggling soccer team on the outskirts of London even though he has no experience with the sport, AppleTV’s “Ted Lasso” ends up being a lot more than that. The show, which set an Emmy record for a first-year comedy series by racking up 20 nominations, is in some ways gloriously optimistic and sunny, but it also stares down loss and depression as it dares to find tenderness and forgiveness. It’s a foul-mouthed comedy but also an open-hearted testament to healing, and a welcome balm in tough times.
The week of the Season 2 premiere, seven of the cast members sat down with TheWrap to talk about the show. The roster: Jason Sudeikis, co-creator,...
- 8/18/2021
- by Steve Pond
- The Wrap
“Short Circuit,” Disney’s experimental shorts program, returns August 4 on Disney+ with five new animated works about personal growth: “Crosswalk” concerns a pedestrian frustrated by a street light that won’t change; “Dinosaur Barbarian,” the program’s first 2D short, conjures a caveman superhero trying to clean up his act; “Going Home” explores a young adult repeatedly visiting his hometown; “No 2 to Kettering” follows a shy British girl who takes a dreary bus ride every morning; and “Songs to Sing in the Dark” offers a battle in a dark cave between two constantly evolving creatures.
“Each [director] had a personal connection to their short, and that was a great starting point,” said “Short Circuit” production manager Jennifer Newfield. “That gave them a clear direction and engagement with the story.”
Ryan Green (“Crosswalk”) imagined his ancestors urging him on instead of waiting for the light to change; Kim Hazel (“Dinosaur Barbarian”) channeled...
“Each [director] had a personal connection to their short, and that was a great starting point,” said “Short Circuit” production manager Jennifer Newfield. “That gave them a clear direction and engagement with the story.”
Ryan Green (“Crosswalk”) imagined his ancestors urging him on instead of waiting for the light to change; Kim Hazel (“Dinosaur Barbarian”) channeled...
- 8/3/2021
- by Bill Desowitz
- Indiewire
U.S. investment firm Narrative Capital has acquired Sony Pictures Television’s entire U.K. channels portfolio in a major deal, Variety can reveal.
The pact covers Sony’s seven free-to-air channels, including Sony Movies, Sony Movies Action, Sony Movies Classic, Sony Channel, Pop, Tiny Pop and Pop Max, as well as the brands’ various digital assets.
The Sony-labeled channels will be rebranded, with a new look unveiled on May 25, and all brands will sit under the Narrative Entertainment banner. However, the content offering, which includes everything from “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to the Care Bears and “Blade Runner 2049,” won’t change, as Sony will continue as a licensing and distribution partner for Narrative.
Variety understands that the plan is to create a premier AVOD destination out of the U.K. that encompasses the various brands. There’s already something of an AVOD footprint in place, with...
The pact covers Sony’s seven free-to-air channels, including Sony Movies, Sony Movies Action, Sony Movies Classic, Sony Channel, Pop, Tiny Pop and Pop Max, as well as the brands’ various digital assets.
The Sony-labeled channels will be rebranded, with a new look unveiled on May 25, and all brands will sit under the Narrative Entertainment banner. However, the content offering, which includes everything from “Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?” to the Care Bears and “Blade Runner 2049,” won’t change, as Sony will continue as a licensing and distribution partner for Narrative.
Variety understands that the plan is to create a premier AVOD destination out of the U.K. that encompasses the various brands. There’s already something of an AVOD footprint in place, with...
- 5/14/2021
- by Manori Ravindran
- Variety Film + TV
NBCUniversal’s Peacock is set to go live on July 15 for a national audience, stuffed with more than 20,000 hours for Premium subscribers — and more than 13,000 hours entirely for free.
So what’s on the service? Here’s a breakdown of what to stream on Peacock Free and Peacock Premium, including original TV shows and movies. While Peacock will be available on platforms including those from Apple, Google, Xbox, LG, Vizio, Comcast and Cox, it will not be on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
Content on both tiers
Both Peacock’s free and premium tiers will feature current-season episodes and specials from NBC and Telemundo; news, sports and pop-culture programming; and more than 30 genre channels including live news from NBC News Now and Sky News, curated channels with clips from shows like “The Office” (which will roll off Netflix at the end of 2020 to come to Peacock in January 2021), “Saturday Night Live,...
So what’s on the service? Here’s a breakdown of what to stream on Peacock Free and Peacock Premium, including original TV shows and movies. While Peacock will be available on platforms including those from Apple, Google, Xbox, LG, Vizio, Comcast and Cox, it will not be on Roku or Amazon Fire TV.
Content on both tiers
Both Peacock’s free and premium tiers will feature current-season episodes and specials from NBC and Telemundo; news, sports and pop-culture programming; and more than 30 genre channels including live news from NBC News Now and Sky News, curated channels with clips from shows like “The Office” (which will roll off Netflix at the end of 2020 to come to Peacock in January 2021), “Saturday Night Live,...
- 7/14/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
Rick and Morty is back on Adult Swim for the remainder of its fourth season. We can all use some serious laughter right now, and the pair’s defiling of space and time is exactly the sort of pick me up that will bring a smile to our faces. Or a wince. And a dazed look that says “oh my god I can’t believe that this show just went there although I Totally believe this show just sent there.”
Friends, Rick and Morty is pretty amazing stuff. Naturally, it’s spawned some incredible collectibles over the years – none of which are more satisfying than the products that Funko has been putting out in their line of vinyl Pop! collectibles. There’s a good reason that these items are more desired that caseloads of Szechuan sauce: They capture the fun, unpredictability of Rick and Morty perfectly.
So without further adieu,...
Friends, Rick and Morty is pretty amazing stuff. Naturally, it’s spawned some incredible collectibles over the years – none of which are more satisfying than the products that Funko has been putting out in their line of vinyl Pop! collectibles. There’s a good reason that these items are more desired that caseloads of Szechuan sauce: They capture the fun, unpredictability of Rick and Morty perfectly.
So without further adieu,...
- 5/5/2020
- by Chris Cummins
- Den of Geek
Comcast and NBCUniversal are pushing Peacock out of the nest starting Wednesday, April 15, promising to unfurl a rich plume of 15,000-plus hours of streaming content, first for the cable giant’s own TV and internet customers.
Peacock is then slated to be available across the U.S. on July 15 — while NBCU is mulling the possibility of moving that up sooner — in various three tiers across mobile, web and connected-tv devices: paid with ads ($4.99 monthly); paid with no ads ($9.99 monthly); and completely free with ads with a truncated content lineup. With the national launch, Comcast (and Cox) subscribers also will have the option to get an ad-free version of the service for an additional $5 per month.
So what’s on the menu? Peacock will include live and on-demand content across current and past TV shows, movies, news, and late night programming, with some live sports once they resume post-pandemic. Most of...
Peacock is then slated to be available across the U.S. on July 15 — while NBCU is mulling the possibility of moving that up sooner — in various three tiers across mobile, web and connected-tv devices: paid with ads ($4.99 monthly); paid with no ads ($9.99 monthly); and completely free with ads with a truncated content lineup. With the national launch, Comcast (and Cox) subscribers also will have the option to get an ad-free version of the service for an additional $5 per month.
So what’s on the menu? Peacock will include live and on-demand content across current and past TV shows, movies, news, and late night programming, with some live sports once they resume post-pandemic. Most of...
- 4/14/2020
- by Todd Spangler
- Variety Film + TV
For years, viewers invited Chris Wiggins into their living rooms to hear his vast knowledge of all things occult on Friday the 13th: The Series, so it is with great sadness that we inform readers that the actor has passed away in Ontario at the age of 87 after a battle with Alzheimer's disease.
According to THR, the news of Wiggins' passing was recently shared in an obituary published in the Toronto Star. His family has requested that loved ones and fans donate to the Alzheimer Society in place of purchasing flowers for his memorial service in mid-March.
Wiggins is perhaps best remembered for his aforementioned role as Jack Marshak in Friday the 13th: The Series. As fans know, instead of Jason Voorhees, the series focused on cursed antiques that had to be tracked down, and Wiggins' character was absolutely vital in helping Micki Foster and Ryan Dallion on their quests,...
According to THR, the news of Wiggins' passing was recently shared in an obituary published in the Toronto Star. His family has requested that loved ones and fans donate to the Alzheimer Society in place of purchasing flowers for his memorial service in mid-March.
Wiggins is perhaps best remembered for his aforementioned role as Jack Marshak in Friday the 13th: The Series. As fans know, instead of Jason Voorhees, the series focused on cursed antiques that had to be tracked down, and Wiggins' character was absolutely vital in helping Micki Foster and Ryan Dallion on their quests,...
- 2/25/2017
- by Derek Anderson
- DailyDead
With its latest move, Frederator Studios is saying “Wow!” The animation company, led by veteran TV and digital media exec Fred Seibert, has been acquired by Rainmaker Entertainment. The result of the deal will be a merger that will combine Rainmaker, Frederator, and Ezrin Hirsh Entertainment to form a new venture called Wow! Unlimited Media.
The deal will combine three studios that all work in the animation industry but inhabit very different niches within it. Rainmaker, based in Vancouver, is best known for producing the 90s cult-classic ReBoot, which was the first ever CG-animated TV series. Frederator, which has offices in Burbank in New York, has parlayed Seibert’s success on TV channels like Nickelodeon into a massive digital network that serves animators around the globe and counts hundreds of millions of views per month. Toronto-based Ezrin Hrish is co-founded by the so-called “father of Canadian animation,” Michael Hirsh. Hirsh...
The deal will combine three studios that all work in the animation industry but inhabit very different niches within it. Rainmaker, based in Vancouver, is best known for producing the 90s cult-classic ReBoot, which was the first ever CG-animated TV series. Frederator, which has offices in Burbank in New York, has parlayed Seibert’s success on TV channels like Nickelodeon into a massive digital network that serves animators around the globe and counts hundreds of millions of views per month. Toronto-based Ezrin Hrish is co-founded by the so-called “father of Canadian animation,” Michael Hirsh. Hirsh...
- 10/27/2016
- by Sam Gutelle
- Tubefilter.com
Not since The Care Bears have we been this excited to see cousins team up and save the day.
The CW on Monday released a teaser trailer from Supergirl‘s upcoming second season (Oct. 10, 8/7c), revealing the first footage of Tyler Hoechlin in action as Clark Kent (aka Superman). It’s only a 30-second teaser — during which Cat Grant gets about as much face time as the Man of Steel — so we’ll just consider it a nice little post-Emmys treat.
RelatedSupergirl Season 2 Photos: Superman, Lena Luthor and, Yes, Cat Grant
The new video finds the cousins joining forces...
The CW on Monday released a teaser trailer from Supergirl‘s upcoming second season (Oct. 10, 8/7c), revealing the first footage of Tyler Hoechlin in action as Clark Kent (aka Superman). It’s only a 30-second teaser — during which Cat Grant gets about as much face time as the Man of Steel — so we’ll just consider it a nice little post-Emmys treat.
RelatedSupergirl Season 2 Photos: Superman, Lena Luthor and, Yes, Cat Grant
The new video finds the cousins joining forces...
- 9/19/2016
- TVLine.com
Ryan Lambie Jul 1, 2016
Emojis. Playmobil. Lego. Brands seem to be here to stay in movies. Ryan looks at its rise and rise...
On paper, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl probably shouldn’t have been a hit. Earlier movies based on Disney’s theme park rides certainly hadn’t been a success - least of all The Country Bears, a family film released a year before Pirates and largely shunned by audiences. Disney boss Michael Eisner moaned at Pirates’ steep $140m bill. Did it have to be so expensive? And could Johnny Depp - hardly known as a bankable star - really lead the movie to box office glory?
The answer was a resounding yes; released in the summer of 2003, Pirates Of The Caribbean made over $650m worldwide. Pirates also appeared to break two curses in one blow: first, it proved that adventure movies set on the...
Emojis. Playmobil. Lego. Brands seem to be here to stay in movies. Ryan looks at its rise and rise...
On paper, Pirates Of The Caribbean: Curse Of The Black Pearl probably shouldn’t have been a hit. Earlier movies based on Disney’s theme park rides certainly hadn’t been a success - least of all The Country Bears, a family film released a year before Pirates and largely shunned by audiences. Disney boss Michael Eisner moaned at Pirates’ steep $140m bill. Did it have to be so expensive? And could Johnny Depp - hardly known as a bankable star - really lead the movie to box office glory?
The answer was a resounding yes; released in the summer of 2003, Pirates Of The Caribbean made over $650m worldwide. Pirates also appeared to break two curses in one blow: first, it proved that adventure movies set on the...
- 6/29/2016
- Den of Geek
You may never look at the Care Bears, the Smurfs or Dora the Explorer the same way again after watching this. On The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon on Thursday, rapper and actor Ice-t was asked to re-dub clips from all three cartoons. "I turned this Roomba into a bong," he declared proudly as Grumpy Bear on an episode of The Care Bears. In a clip from The Smurfs, Ice-t plays Papa Smurf, who dispenses some tough love advice to one of the other Smurfs. "I think I know what the problem is," he said. "You need to man the f--k up." He then re-dubbed part of a Dora the Explorer episode and poked fun at host Jimmy Fallon over his recent hand...
- 7/31/2015
- E! Online
The long line of 80s/90s classic cartoons getting rebooted continues. Netflix has announced that the Care Bears are joining in the new lineup of kids shows on their service. Care Bears and Cousins will launch in 2016 along with most of their upcoming animated shows. Netflix chief content officer Ted Sarandos announced the new series when he talked to CNN about why they are choosing trusted brands to kick start original kid content. It will join the likes of King Kong and The Magic School Bus as their growing list of trusted brands’ build up.
The Care Bears have enjoyed a recent boost in popularity as of late. The American Greetings created the franchise that quickly took off due to their cute personalities and fluffy looks. Current a series based off the franchise airs on The Hub and more recently a reboot on CBS ended as well. No word yet...
The Care Bears have enjoyed a recent boost in popularity as of late. The American Greetings created the franchise that quickly took off due to their cute personalities and fluffy looks. Current a series based off the franchise airs on The Hub and more recently a reboot on CBS ended as well. No word yet...
- 10/14/2014
- by Sarah Peel
- Boomtron
Netflix is set to reboot the iconic 1980s animated franchise "The Care Bears" with the series "Care Bears and Cousins" which will premiere in 2016.
Netflix Cco Ted Sarandos announced the revival during an interview with CNN Money, saying they have gravitated toward well-known franchises and trusted brand names to bolster their growing slate of children's series.
The original creations started off on greeting cards, became plush bear toys and soon had their own TV shows and films. Each bear came in a different color and sported an insignia on its belly which represented its personality.
The news follows on from recent announcements by the company for a "King Kong" animated series, a revival of the 1980s toy line "Popples," and a revival of the 1990s kids series "The Magic School Bus".
Source: The Live Feed...
Netflix Cco Ted Sarandos announced the revival during an interview with CNN Money, saying they have gravitated toward well-known franchises and trusted brand names to bolster their growing slate of children's series.
The original creations started off on greeting cards, became plush bear toys and soon had their own TV shows and films. Each bear came in a different color and sported an insignia on its belly which represented its personality.
The news follows on from recent announcements by the company for a "King Kong" animated series, a revival of the 1980s toy line "Popples," and a revival of the 1990s kids series "The Magic School Bus".
Source: The Live Feed...
- 10/13/2014
- by Garth Franklin
- Dark Horizons
This is for all Doctor Who fans out there – these ten obscure facts that you probably didn’t know are dedicated to you.
The facts included range from New Series facts to things that happened in the classic series, from appearances by future Who stars in movies, to the cancellation of the original run of the show itself. Everything and anything from the Whovian canon is up for inclusion, just as long as you probably did not know about it.
As ever, some may already know the following facts, but most won’t know them all.
10. There Was Almost A Doctor Who Animated Series
And no, I’m not talking about Scream of The Shalka’s possible spin off.
Back in the late ‘80s, Canadian animating company Nelvana got the rights from the BBC to produce an animated Doctor Who series. The company are infamous for animating The Care Bears...
The facts included range from New Series facts to things that happened in the classic series, from appearances by future Who stars in movies, to the cancellation of the original run of the show itself. Everything and anything from the Whovian canon is up for inclusion, just as long as you probably did not know about it.
As ever, some may already know the following facts, but most won’t know them all.
10. There Was Almost A Doctor Who Animated Series
And no, I’m not talking about Scream of The Shalka’s possible spin off.
Back in the late ‘80s, Canadian animating company Nelvana got the rights from the BBC to produce an animated Doctor Who series. The company are infamous for animating The Care Bears...
- 3/30/2013
- by Will Barber- Taylor
- Obsessed with Film
As RZA's Wu-resume grows to include the title of director, it looks like the rapper isn't just going to get back behind the decks, cook up some beats and drop some mad rhymes. He sees a Wu-opportunity to keep this new Wu-avenue going, and the filmmaker is now taking on a new project. Robert Fitzgerald Diggs, as he's known on his tax forms, will be teaming with comic writer Grant Morrison to bring the latter's "Happy!" to the big screen. And it's an odd one. Said to be somewhere between "It's A Wonderful Life," "The Care Bears" and "Sin City" (we're not kidding), the story centers on a grimy ex-cop who teams up with a cheerful blue horse named Happy (again, we're not kidding), just before Christmas, as he tries to save a little kid...and the entire city. This is either going to be the best or worst thing ever.
- 10/9/2012
- by Kevin Jagernauth
- The Playlist
Toronto – Canadian animation giant Cookie Jar Entertainment has been acquired by rival kids producer Dhx Media as part of a cash, stock and debt deal worth $111 million. The price tag is in Canadian dollars, but the Canadian and U.S. currencies have been virtually on par, so the figure only changes minimally to around $112 million when converting it to U.S. dollars. Halifax-based Dhx Media, which is run by Michael Donovan, will snag Cookie Jar’s library of around 6,000 half hours of classic programming like Arthur, Caillou and Care Bears by offering 36 million Dhx
read more...
read more...
- 8/20/2012
- by Etan Vlessing
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Despite his foul mouth, anger management issues and promiscuous behavior, Ted the teddy bear, star of the movie "Ted", still has a cute and cuddly factor. He's a stuffed bear, you can't escape a bit of the 'Aww' factor, and he comes from a long line of famous fuzzy celebrities.
When MTV News caught up with Ted's director, Seth MacFarlane, recently, we asked him to compare Ted to other famous celebrity bears, like Snuggles from the Snuggles laundry detergent commercials, '80s toy Teddy Ruxpin, "The Muppets" funnyman Fozzie Bear and the colorful Care Bears.
[ video unavailable on this device ]
As was to be expected, Ted and MacFarlane aren't exactly super fans of their famous brethren, but they did have some high praise for one lucky bear.
"Snuggles, what the hell? He's a recluse," he said. "Who the f--- hides out in the goddamn laundry? Sitting in the goddamn laundry all day, who does that?...
When MTV News caught up with Ted's director, Seth MacFarlane, recently, we asked him to compare Ted to other famous celebrity bears, like Snuggles from the Snuggles laundry detergent commercials, '80s toy Teddy Ruxpin, "The Muppets" funnyman Fozzie Bear and the colorful Care Bears.
[ video unavailable on this device ]
As was to be expected, Ted and MacFarlane aren't exactly super fans of their famous brethren, but they did have some high praise for one lucky bear.
"Snuggles, what the hell? He's a recluse," he said. "Who the f--- hides out in the goddamn laundry? Sitting in the goddamn laundry all day, who does that?...
- 6/29/2012
- by Kara Warner
- MTV Movies Blog
With "Ted," Seth MacFarlane's tale of a grown man and his anthropomorphic, foul-mouthed teddy bear, opening this weekend (and for the most part proving to be foul-mouthed fun; look for our review very soon), we got to thinking about the childhood playthings of our (cinematic) past. Considering what a truly influential and fundamental part of childhood having a teddy bear is, it's kind of astounding that there aren't more memorable teddy bears on the big or small screen out there.
Still there's more than one who've found their way into key roles in major motion pictures, and as a result, we've put together a little bluffer's guide into the history of the cinematic history of our ursine pals, with the major proviso that, like Ted in "Ted," they had to be animated -- fans of "Grizzly Man" should look elsewhere. Check out our selection below, and you can see "Ted" in theaters from Friday,...
Still there's more than one who've found their way into key roles in major motion pictures, and as a result, we've put together a little bluffer's guide into the history of the cinematic history of our ursine pals, with the major proviso that, like Ted in "Ted," they had to be animated -- fans of "Grizzly Man" should look elsewhere. Check out our selection below, and you can see "Ted" in theaters from Friday,...
- 6/27/2012
- by Drew Taylor
- The Playlist
Guy Pearce is in talks to join Robert Downey, Jr. and Sir Ben Kingsley in Iron Man 3 as Aldrich Killian, which means nothing to me, but I hope Killian doesn't have much of a costume.
The White House has officially endorsed the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act according to a report from Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner. A little over a year ago, Chris and I were in San Francisco together at the Haas Foundation's gathering, and he began asking questions of the White House regularly after that. I can't help but think his dedication to keeping the pressure on helped.
In the didn't-see-this-coming department, Taylor Swift in is talks to play Joni Mitchell in a movie.
Nom doesn't think that reading time should be daddy time for a little girl. Asshats.
Ally Hudson Taylor thinks that sports needs an Athletics Equality Index, much like the Hrc publishes one for corporations.
The White House has officially endorsed the Safe Schools Improvement Act and the Student Non-Discrimination Act according to a report from Metro Weekly's Chris Geidner. A little over a year ago, Chris and I were in San Francisco together at the Haas Foundation's gathering, and he began asking questions of the White House regularly after that. I can't help but think his dedication to keeping the pressure on helped.
In the didn't-see-this-coming department, Taylor Swift in is talks to play Joni Mitchell in a movie.
Nom doesn't think that reading time should be daddy time for a little girl. Asshats.
Ally Hudson Taylor thinks that sports needs an Athletics Equality Index, much like the Hrc publishes one for corporations.
- 4/22/2012
- by lostinmiami
- The Backlot
Each week within this column we strive to pair the latest in theatrical releases to the worthwhile titles currently available on Netflix Instant Watch.
It’s an invasion! This week in theaters, aliens ride into the Old West and crash South London while a pack of little blue men take New York City by storm! If you can’t get enough of western genre-blending, villainous aliens and ’80s nostalgia, we’ve got a selection of streaming features destined to entertain you through the heatwave!
—
Cowboys & Aliens
When space invaders roll into a settlement in 1873 Arizona, two wily cowboys (Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford) are all that stands between mankind and world domination! Olivia Wilde co-stars; Jon Favreau directs.
Firefly: The Complete Series (2002) Combining sci-fi and western elements may not be new, but it was rarely as much fun as seen in Joss Whedon’s short-lived but fan-adored adventures series Firefly.
It’s an invasion! This week in theaters, aliens ride into the Old West and crash South London while a pack of little blue men take New York City by storm! If you can’t get enough of western genre-blending, villainous aliens and ’80s nostalgia, we’ve got a selection of streaming features destined to entertain you through the heatwave!
—
Cowboys & Aliens
When space invaders roll into a settlement in 1873 Arizona, two wily cowboys (Daniel Craig and Harrison Ford) are all that stands between mankind and world domination! Olivia Wilde co-stars; Jon Favreau directs.
Firefly: The Complete Series (2002) Combining sci-fi and western elements may not be new, but it was rarely as much fun as seen in Joss Whedon’s short-lived but fan-adored adventures series Firefly.
- 7/28/2011
- by Kristy Puchko
- The Film Stage
Filed under: Reality-Free, TV News
A whole new generation is about to get to know the Care Bares. Those cuddly, cartoon bears with pretty pictures on their stomachs are returning to TV in a new CGI series.
The new show, which will launch next year, will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1980s childhood staple.
"The Care Bears are not just a piece of '80s pop culture, but an enduring and still beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced," Gabrielle Oliff, marketing director for American Greetings Properties, said in a statement. "By producing a new television series, we are excited to help moms who grew up with the Care Bears share them with their own children."
The Care Bears were launched by American Greetings for use in greeting cards and later transitioned to TV and toys.
A whole new generation is about to get to know the Care Bares. Those cuddly, cartoon bears with pretty pictures on their stomachs are returning to TV in a new CGI series.
The new show, which will launch next year, will mark the 30th anniversary of the 1980s childhood staple.
"The Care Bears are not just a piece of '80s pop culture, but an enduring and still beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced," Gabrielle Oliff, marketing director for American Greetings Properties, said in a statement. "By producing a new television series, we are excited to help moms who grew up with the Care Bears share them with their own children."
The Care Bears were launched by American Greetings for use in greeting cards and later transitioned to TV and toys.
- 7/7/2011
- by Chris Harnick
- Aol TV.
Alright fans of I Love the 80s! It seems that The Care Bears are headed back to TV in a new CGI-animated series being produced by American Greetings Properties in honor of the characters’ 30th anniversary in 2012. They are also planning on creating a new toy line for release in 2013 (via Variety).
The original characters were created in 1982 by American Greetings as greeting-cards, which then morphed into the highly popular toy line and numerous TV specials. The Care Bears Movie grossed more than $22 million at the U.S. box office. The toy line was relaunched in 2002, and has generated more than $2.6 billion in global sales.
Here is what a representative from American Greetings had to say:
“The Care Bears are not just a piece of ’80s pop culture, but enduring and still-beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced.
The original characters were created in 1982 by American Greetings as greeting-cards, which then morphed into the highly popular toy line and numerous TV specials. The Care Bears Movie grossed more than $22 million at the U.S. box office. The toy line was relaunched in 2002, and has generated more than $2.6 billion in global sales.
Here is what a representative from American Greetings had to say:
“The Care Bears are not just a piece of ’80s pop culture, but enduring and still-beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced.
- 7/7/2011
- by Kevin Coll
- FusedFilm
The Care Bears are headed back to TV in a new CGI-animated series being produced by American Greetings Properties in honor of the characters' 30th anniversary in 2012. They are also planning on creating a new toy line for release in 2013, Variety reports.
The original characters were created in 1982 by American Greetings as greeting-cards, which then morphed into the highly popular toy line and numerous TV specials. The Care Bears Movie grossed more than $22 million at the U.S. box office. The toy line was relaunched in 2002, and has generated more than $2.6 billion in global sales.
Here is what a respresentative from American Greetings had to say:
"The Care Bears are not just a piece of '80s pop culture, but enduring and still-beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced. By producing a new television series, we...
The original characters were created in 1982 by American Greetings as greeting-cards, which then morphed into the highly popular toy line and numerous TV specials. The Care Bears Movie grossed more than $22 million at the U.S. box office. The toy line was relaunched in 2002, and has generated more than $2.6 billion in global sales.
Here is what a respresentative from American Greetings had to say:
"The Care Bears are not just a piece of '80s pop culture, but enduring and still-beloved properties whose messages of caring and sharing are as relevant today as they were when the property was first introduced. By producing a new television series, we...
- 7/6/2011
- by Tiberius
- GeekTyrant
American Girl Samantha Parkington is busy empowering little girls and Walt Disney and the El Grupo are too busy fighting the war. With all that going on, we'll leave the fluff to the Care Bears and the animated Duke Brothers. Here are some titles you may have missed recently.
• • •
The Dukes
by Lex Walker
{amazon}B004GF9W0O{/amazon}
It's rather unfortunate that it took until 1983 for The Dukes of Hazzard to get the cartoon adaptation treatment. Not because it deserved its ink sooner, but because at that point in the live-action series Luke (Tom Wopat) and Bo (John Schneider) had moved on (albeit briefly) leaving their "cousins" Vance (Christopher Mayer) and Coy (Byron Cherry) to engage in the show's misadventures for a year. So when Hanna Barbera adapted the show into a cartoon, instead of just making the main characters Bo and Luke (who were the obvious choice...
• • •
The Dukes
by Lex Walker
{amazon}B004GF9W0O{/amazon}
It's rather unfortunate that it took until 1983 for The Dukes of Hazzard to get the cartoon adaptation treatment. Not because it deserved its ink sooner, but because at that point in the live-action series Luke (Tom Wopat) and Bo (John Schneider) had moved on (albeit briefly) leaving their "cousins" Vance (Christopher Mayer) and Coy (Byron Cherry) to engage in the show's misadventures for a year. So when Hanna Barbera adapted the show into a cartoon, instead of just making the main characters Bo and Luke (who were the obvious choice...
- 12/21/2010
- by Arya Ponto
- JustPressPlay.net
On a weekend where the only major releases are remakes of a popular movie and a famous TV show from the 80s, it's clear that Hollywood's insistence on trying to profit from nostalgia will continue unabated. A new movie based on the 80s cartoon and rainbow-colored toy line The Care Bears is probably inevitable. But there's a pretty good chance it won't turn out like this... If you see a cool video online you think would be perfect for this spotlight, drop us a line at [email protected].
- 6/12/2010
- by Dave Davis
- JoBlo.com
The Care Bears were a popular fad in the eighties but even though they’ve been relegated to kiddie icons of the past, they’ve never really left us. They keep being revamped for successive generations of youngsters. The wholesome nature of the cartoon may seem outdated and naïve by today’s standards but its harmless fun for the little ones.
The Care Bears began as a popular series of greeting cards and quickly graduated to a major merchandising phenomenon when Parker Brothers launched a line of Care Bear toys and games. In the mid-eighties, the first of several animated series debuted. The Care Bears frenzy died off but the Care Bears never really did. A second series based on those caring bears came out in the 90s. Another revamp of the franchise began in 2002 and then again in 2007, which is where the stories collected in Care Bears: Share-a-Lot in Care-a-lot come from.
The Care Bears began as a popular series of greeting cards and quickly graduated to a major merchandising phenomenon when Parker Brothers launched a line of Care Bear toys and games. In the mid-eighties, the first of several animated series debuted. The Care Bears frenzy died off but the Care Bears never really did. A second series based on those caring bears came out in the 90s. Another revamp of the franchise began in 2002 and then again in 2007, which is where the stories collected in Care Bears: Share-a-Lot in Care-a-lot come from.
- 5/8/2010
- by Rob Young
- JustPressPlay.net
The Care Bears were a popular fad in the eighties but even though they’ve been relegated to kiddie icons of the past, they’ve never really left us. They keep being revamped for successive generations of youngsters. The wholesome nature of the cartoon may seem outdated and naïve by today’s standards but its harmless fun for the little ones.
The Care Bears began as a popular series of greeting cards and quickly graduated to a major merchandising phenomenon when Parker Brothers launched a line of Care Bear toys and games. In the mid-eighties, the first of several animated series debuted. The Care Bears frenzy died off but the Care Bears never really did. A second series based on those caring bears came out in the 90s. Another revamp of the franchise began in 2002 and then again in 2007, which is where the stories collected in Care Bears: Share-a-Lot in Care-a-lot come from.
The Care Bears began as a popular series of greeting cards and quickly graduated to a major merchandising phenomenon when Parker Brothers launched a line of Care Bear toys and games. In the mid-eighties, the first of several animated series debuted. The Care Bears frenzy died off but the Care Bears never really did. A second series based on those caring bears came out in the 90s. Another revamp of the franchise began in 2002 and then again in 2007, which is where the stories collected in Care Bears: Share-a-Lot in Care-a-lot come from.
- 5/8/2010
- by Rob Young
- JustPressPlay.net
I don't quite know what to say about Care Bears Bear Buddies. I was never a Care Bears kid, and after watching an hour and a half of them, I remembered why.
Bear Buddies is full of "lessons from the heart" about the "value of friendship"—or so says the box. Divided into eight stories, each episode provides a heartfelt life lesson about what it means to be a true bear buddy. The extremely original themes include learning to like yourself before others can like you, working together, trust, and sharing.
I've never before been exposed to such nauseating cartoon do-goodery. I got about four minutes in before I was ready to tear my eyeballs out. There was one blind moment of good comedic timing, when Oopsy makes a joke and is met with blank stares (the moment's ruined when they all laugh at it).
I sort of wish that...
Bear Buddies is full of "lessons from the heart" about the "value of friendship"—or so says the box. Divided into eight stories, each episode provides a heartfelt life lesson about what it means to be a true bear buddy. The extremely original themes include learning to like yourself before others can like you, working together, trust, and sharing.
I've never before been exposed to such nauseating cartoon do-goodery. I got about four minutes in before I was ready to tear my eyeballs out. There was one blind moment of good comedic timing, when Oopsy makes a joke and is met with blank stares (the moment's ruined when they all laugh at it).
I sort of wish that...
- 10/4/2009
- by Jess Goodwin
- JustPressPlay.net
'Shortcake,' 'Care Bears' return to TV
CBS is bringing familiar faces to its fall children's slate. Resurrected favorites Care Bears and Strawberry Shortcake are among the new shows next season, as well as Sushi Pack and I Was a High School Dinosaur.
The three-hour FCC-required block, which is programd by DIC Entertainment, also includes returning shows Cake and Horseland.
Care Bears will celebrate 25 years with new episodes and a new take on such original characters as Cheer Bear, Funshine and Grumpy.
Strawberry Shortcake follows the adventures of the title character and her similarly sweetly named friends in the Saturday morning broadcast television debut.
Sushi Pack by Emmy-winning writer-producers Tom Ruegger and Nicholas Hollander (Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures) follows five pieces of crime-fighting sushi as they protect Bento Bay.
In I Was a High School Dinosaur, five teens with the ability to transform themselves learn, with the help of their wise science teacher, how to use their powers to protect the Earth from "mutant-saurs" and global warming.
Horseland combines CGI and traditional animation to create a magical stable where the horses can talk to each other about compassion, honesty and cooperation.
The three-hour FCC-required block, which is programd by DIC Entertainment, also includes returning shows Cake and Horseland.
Care Bears will celebrate 25 years with new episodes and a new take on such original characters as Cheer Bear, Funshine and Grumpy.
Strawberry Shortcake follows the adventures of the title character and her similarly sweetly named friends in the Saturday morning broadcast television debut.
Sushi Pack by Emmy-winning writer-producers Tom Ruegger and Nicholas Hollander (Animaniacs, Tiny Toon Adventures) follows five pieces of crime-fighting sushi as they protect Bento Bay.
In I Was a High School Dinosaur, five teens with the ability to transform themselves learn, with the help of their wise science teacher, how to use their powers to protect the Earth from "mutant-saurs" and global warming.
Horseland combines CGI and traditional animation to create a magical stable where the horses can talk to each other about compassion, honesty and cooperation.
- 4/12/2007
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
Nelvana, Nick Germany ink toon deal
TORONTO -- Canadian cartoon producer Nelvana Ltd. on Monday said it has sold four cartoon series to Nick Germany ahead of its fall launch. Nickelodeon's German kids channel, set to go live in September, has picked up a package of Nelvana programming that includes 20 episodes of 3-D musical adventure series The Backyardigans, 26 episodes of the preschool series Max & Ruby, another 49 episodes of Care Bears, and episodes 27 through 54 of Braceface. In a statement, Markus Andorfer, the newly installed program director at Nick Germany, said the four Nelvana series will complement Nick's own cartoon series. Andorfer hammered out the deal with Wiebke Hoefer, Nelvana's sales director for Eastern and Central Europe, Turkey and Israel.
- 7/11/2005
- The Hollywood Reporter - Movie News
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