The Successor of Tai's Biograblog-- The Jackson Kids Schoolhouse

Hi everyone! I have thought about it, and it is finally time to move on to a new blog, The Jackson Kids Schoolhouse. My brothers and sister wanted to have a blog too, so I am making a blog for all of us. We will teach you things that you probably didn't know! I will be teaching Muppets and puppets, my brother, Liam is teaching zoology, my brother, Grey, will be teaching random things from a 3- year old's perspective, and my sister, Bronwyn will be teaching a lot of girly things. We hope you love it, right guys? Yeah!!!! So move over to The Jackson Kids Schoolhouse and let's get started!   

My Favorite Episodes of the Muppet Show-- Season 1

Note: I'm sorry I haven't posted something in a while! I've been really, really busy. I'm in the 4th grade now, so I get A LOT of homework! I'm now going to tell you my favorite episodes of the Muppet Show! I'm in to puppets and the Muppets now. Well, what are we waiting for. Let's go!!!
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These choices are based off the sketches of Season 1 of The Muppet Show. If there are multiple funny, beautiful, or just plain weird sketches on this a single show I will put them on this list. It was hard to choose from, but here they are:

1. Rita Moreno- Episode #5

Rita and Ms. Piggy heckling each other

This episode is not only excellent and funny, it also developed Animal's personality. It also marked the first episode with my all time favorite sketch on the Muppet Show, Veterinarian's Hospital. Rita Moreno did such a good job on the show that it won an Emmy award! That was a big achievement, especially it was on its 5th show. Some of the great acts on this show was Rita Moreno's opening act with a puppet man (inside there was a man who knew how to dance and do martial arts), who wrestled Rita, Swedish Chef's hilarious sketch with the Chef flipping pancakes (they never come down until the Chef shoots them with a gun!), The Country Trio (a parody of Jim Henson, Jerry Nelson, & Frank Oz, three performers on the show) singing "To Morrow", Marvin Suggs & His Amazing Muppaphones (creatures who got hit with a mallet by Marvin) sing "Lady of Spain", Rita's talk spot, the Discussion Panel, Rita's closing number with Animal, and the running gag backstage with the telephone and Fozzie Bear.

2. Charles Aznavour- Episode #9

Charles Aznavour and Ms. Piggy

It's funny, the thing about this show that I like is not the guest star (He is a French singer/dancer who, in my opinion, very boring.). The reason I put this on my list is because of the sketches. This episode has great sketches, with a pretty good backstage plot with Gonzo the Great. Gonzo complains that his acts are not on the show as much. Kermit says that his acts aren't working and Gonzo protests. Kermit suggests that he gets a manager to guide his career. It's not the best plot, but it's pretty good. The great sketches include a hilarious opening number called "I Feel Pretty" (A beautiful women gets ready for her date by dressing up as a monster! Her date is the Beautiful Day Monster!), a silly musical number called "Does Your Chewing Lose Its Flavor On The Bedpost Overnight?", a very funny Discussion Panel with Gonzo ("Art and Culture!"), Sam the Eagle ("Peace and Courage!"), Hilda ("Pins and Needles!"), Kermit, the moderator, and Mildred Hockstadder (MA, BA, PHD, OBE, & RSVP) who talk about a question with lasting importance , "What is man's role in the Universe?". Good skits include "Inchworm", sung by Charles Aznavour.

3. Avery Schreiber- Episode # 16

Avery Schreiber and some crazy Muppet creatures

Ms. Piggy, man she's good in this fantastic episode with comedian Avery Schreiber. Ms. Piggy really gets to shine in this backstage plot, with Scooter helping her with her with her wacky scheme to win Kermit's heart-- jealousy. She told Scooter to tell Kermit ("Oooh! You want me to lie," says Scooter) that Avery Schreiber is in love with her. And it actually worked, though Scooter told Kermit that it was all a lie, so he got a karate chop from Ms. Piggy, and Avery said he couldn't even touch a pig, much less kiss one, so he got the second one for the evening. Great sketches include a battle of insults with The Monster of the Moors (Sweetums), and Sir Avery of Macho (Avery), with Kermit in his Sesame Street reporter clothes, a pantomime sketch with Avery and Fozzie, Fozzie being a painting and Avery the night guard, a funny Veterinarian's Hospital sketch, a comedy spot with Fozzie and Avery, and a alien scat song, sung by Avery to a bunch of Muppet creatures. And in the end, Kermit gets that third karate chop by Ms. Piggy! This was a great episode!!

Valerie Harper and Kermit the Frog

4. Valerie Harper- Episode # 20

THIS IS WHAT WE CALL THE MUPPET SHOOOWWW! Boom! We cut straight to backstage? Has that ever happened before in Season 1? No, it hasn't, so that is why I am putting it on this list. Not only that, there are some funny sketches on this show like when the Swedish Chef was decorating a Japanese chocolate cake. The cake says something in Japanese and the Chef gets out a translation book. The Chef realizes that the cake is very argumentative, so the Chef chops the cake in half! Ha-ha! Also, Rowlf's poem about butterflies! That is really funny because a giant butterfly tries to catch him in a net. But, I think the best thing about the sketches is the UK Spot, "Tit Willow", when Sam the Eagle (the bird) and Rowlf the Dog (the main singer and the piano player) sing a song about a little bird. All Sam has to say (boringly) is,"Willow, Tit Willow, Tit Willow." Rowlf instructs him when to say it, and in the end everyone laughs at him! ("Why are they laughing?"says Sam) But that's not all! Valerie Harper sang beautifully for her two numbers, her own song "Broadway Baby*", and her finale on the show, "Nobody Does it Like Me!" Oh, and the backstage plot (I like this show so much!!)! Statler (one of the two elder gentlemen in the balcony) wants to meet Ms. Harper so he could give her a African berry bush, which grows 3ft an hour, unless you water it, and then it grows more. It becomes a very bad problem backstage, the whole backstage is covered in it because George the Janitor watered it! It's very funny!!! This episode is one of my favorites!!!

* This is not verified, but it is one of the first lines that she sings.

5. Kaye Ballard- Episode #23

Kaye and Ms. Piggy competing

The next to last episode in Season 1, it is a great one! The backstage plot is fantastic, the Electric Mayhem wants to quit the Muppet Show because of its theme song! Floyd Pepper, a member of the band, explained to Kermit that they just couldn't take it anymore, they had to quit. Kermit liked duh- duh-duh- duh- di- duh- duh, duh- duh - du- di-duh, but the band said no. Kermit pleads them to write a theme song so they can stay, and the band agrees! They come up with "Fugue for Frog" a short, rock piece that sounds terrible to Kermit, so they must leave! It's funny, the next show they're back! Some of the awesome sketches on this show include the Country Trio singing "You Don't Want My Love", the UK Spot on the show, "Life Gets Teejus", a sketch in which a large hairy blob asks to get his hair cut, but he cuts it too short, so he lost a customer, a Vendaface sketch doing a facial makeover on some patients, and "One Note Samba", featuring tonight's guest star, Kaye Ballard, competing against that famous pig, Ms. Piggy in a battle of  instruments,  they see who can play better, which turns out to be Kaye. This is the last episode I am putting on this list, so I thank every website that helped me. I will list them below:

Websites that Helped Me:

• Most notably, Muppet Central Guides,
• a truly wonderful website that helped me tons!!

Here's the link: Muppet Central Guides- Season 1 

Also, Youtube has ALL of the episodes on it, so I watched it and that is how I got all of my opinions! Here's the link to it: Youtube- The Muppet Show

Oh, and if you want to get it on DVD, try Amazon- The Muppet Show Season 1 DVD Set

Thank you! I hope you enjoy this!

Sincerely,

                       Tai Jackson

ATTENTION TAI'S BIOGRABLOG READERS:

Unfortunately, this blog's is going down a landfill decomposing into toxic mush. So sorry I haven't posted in more than 6 months! One, I have been very busy this year; having a project and LOTS OF HOMEWORK for the CRCT. Boooooo! Two, I don't know WHAT to post ABOUT!!!! AHHHHHH! TAI!!! Did someone call? Yes it's Tai the Terrific!! Please help!!

       Tai's gonna help me create a top five list for one of the best shows in the history of the world, 

THE MUPPET SHOW!

Can't wait to get reviewed! ... hope he chooses the one with me singing Bein' Green....

Tomorrow or the day after that I will write a post about the top 5 Muppet Show episodes in SEASON 2! I just finished watching if with my dad. Then I'll review the top 5 in season 1, 3, 4, and 5. Then I'll decide what my top ten episodes are in general! Then, (sorry if I'm boring you) I'll decide my top 30 scenes in the Muppet Show! So, be prepared!

The First Looney Tune: Sinkin' in the Bathtub

  
Credits
Looney Tunes: No. 1
Released: April 19, 1930
Directed by: Harman and Ising
Produced by: Hugh Harman, Rudolph Ising, and Leon Schlesinger
Animated by: Isadore "Friz"Freleng
Music Score: Frank Marsales
                                                                                                                       

The cartoon begins with Bosko, whistling to the song "Singing in the Bathtub" He is sure enjoying his time in there, he's plucking the water coming out of the shower like a harp. He also plucks his feet and his nose which is a typical 30s gag.

Then, the most strange thing happens in this cartoon is the bathtub COMES TO LIFE!! It's starts dancing and then it takes a towel and dances with it (notice Felix Mendelsohn's Spring Song is being played in the background)! Then, the bathtub dances to some toilet paper and rips off a piece like there's a wedding going on. Then we here Singing in the Bathtub again in the background and the bathtub smacks his bottom. I think that bathtub animation very creepy and
only 30s cartoons would do that.

 Bosko pulls a string his head and his pants magically pull up by themselves! I wish I could do that! This gag is featured in a lot of Harmen-Ising Looney Tunes.

Then, he actually pulls the water to a 90 degrees angle! I mean that is supposed
to be clever or something? That doesn't even make scientifically sense! Well,
anyway, he jumps onto the water and carries his out the window. The thing
that bothers me is that he just leaves the water running! Is he doing to waste
all that water or something? He'll have a high water bill! Bosko then takes
his huge harmonica and starts playing it. Is it me or did Bosko just have
sleeves on his clothes now?

Bosko now does this cool gag where he whistles and bumps his harmonica
on his bottom again. Boy, they sure do that in this cartoon a lot. We'll see
Honey do it later on the short. Then, a car steps out and he rides it to
Honey's house. The car sure has some character. On the way he plays his
harmonica. He does some pretty annoying sounds with his mouth. The
crank that Bosko cranked up the car with is suddenly gone! WHAT?!
 Bosko then picks some flowers for Honey. Meanwhile, Honey is
taking a bath when she realizes that Bosko is there. She quickly gets dressed.
AGAIN... the crank on Bosko's car comes back again as Bosko arrives.
 Yes! Bosko and Honey finally says something in the short!

Honey: "Hello, Bosko!"

Bosko: (shaking)"Guess what I got for you Honey!"

Behind his back there's a goat who saw Bosko's flowers for Honey
and wants to eat it. I don't understand why Bosko can just go and
give it to her! The goat then eats the flowers. Bosko gets upset
and starts to cry. Then Honey says (in a annoying voice),

Honey: "It's OK, Bosko! I still love you!"

Bosko suddenly gets happy again! He goes to his car and
takes some parts on his car and makes a saxophone out
of it. He starts to play it. He plays A Hot Time In The
Old Town Tonight which was the first theme to Looney
Tunes from 1930 to 1932. Honey takes a tub of bubbles
and pours it in and Bosko starts playing another song
called
I'm Forever Blowing Bubbles

Then Honey starts dancing to the music. Now, this
is kind of weird, but Honey rolls down her pants!
I wonder why the censors didn't cut that part out!
We also see Honey naked earlier when she was
taking bath. Then Honey walks on the bubbles
to get down to Bosko. To me, that's very good
timing!

Bosko and Honey get in the car and go for a ride.
They kiss and are having a great time. Then there's
that gag where they can't get passed the cow. They
end up going over the cow. Then the cow gets mad
and stomps away. I've noticed that gag has been in
a lot of Harman-Ising cartoons (like Smile, Darn Ya,
Smile). They go up a hill and then they go down. Of
course, Bosko gets knocked off and Honey needs help.
Bosko is going through rough times as he is being
wacked in the crutch and banging his head in the rocks.

The car goes through the house and the car turns in to
a bathtub. Then there's some ok animation of the bath
tub (on wheels) going down a mountain. Honey falls
into a river and Bosko lands on a branch of a tree.
A creepy looking hand jumps out of the water and grabs
Bosko in the bathtub. Bosko and Honey start to play
Sinkin' in the Bathtub with the lily pads and just like
Bosko said at the end of a Looney Tune--
"So long, Folks!"

The Lost Toons: Foxy

 
Like my new sign? I made it on a photo editing program on the computer!
Today we will be looking at the most Mickey-Mousesque character that ever was created!

Update: 12/24/13: Actually, there is characters that tops Foxy
in Mickey-Mouseque. They were two characters from the long-
forgotten Van Beuren studio. Their names are Milton and Rita 
Mouse. Milton and Rita started out looking like little teeny mice,
but when Mickey Mouse came to popularity, they redesigned the
characters. Now when Disney saw these cartoons, he was furious.
He sued Van Beuren for "copying Mickey Mouse". Disney later
admits that he did get inspired from the mice in Aesop Fables 
cartoons, produced by the same studio. Milton and Rita only 
appeared in three shorts, Circus Capers, Uncle Tom and Little
Eva, and The Office Boy.

Foxy

The Lost Toons  Present     Foxy
Foxy looked almost exactly like Mickey Mouse.
Probably the only differences were his pointy
ears, his bushy tail, and his voice (he didn't
speak with a falsetto voice, but he had a
baritone voice).

Creator(s): Hugh Harmen and Rudolph Ising

Created in: 1931

First appeared in: Lady Play Your Mandolin

Last appeared in: One More Time

Characters in Foxy cartoons: Foxy (the star), Roxy (Foxy's girlfriend, named Roxy in the Tiny Toon Adventure episode, Two-Toned-Town

Voiced by: unknown

Fun Facts: Foxy only starred in three Merrie Melodies shorts. Lady Play Your Mandolin, the first short, was also the first Merrie Melodies short ever created. Smile, Darn Ya, Smile, the second short, had a similar plot to the Oswald the Lucky Rabbit short Trolley Troubles. One More Time, the third and final short to have Foxy in it had a cops-and-robbers sort of theme to it.

Modern projects: Foxy was seen with his girlfriend Roxy and another old Merrie Melodies character, Goopy Geer in the Tiny Toons Adventure episode Two-Tone-Town.

Catch phrase: "So long, folks!"

Filmography: WB: W Lady Play Your Mandolin,  Smile, Darn Ya, Smile,  One More Time

Hope you enjoy my post about Foxy! Next I will be reviewing the first Looney Tunes cartoon ever, Sinkin' in the Bathtub!

Sincerely,
       
               Tai Jackson

Porky Pig Through the Years

This is the last post in the series "Through the Years". Hope you enjoy it! (It's about Porky Pig!)

The first Porky was round and fat. In
his first appearance, I Haven't Got A Hat,
surprisingly, was not the star.

 First appearance of Porky in I Haven't Got a Hat 

Producer Leon Schlesinger, was trying
to find a star to replace the most bland
star in Looney Tunes, Buddy. So,
director Friz Freleng created lots of
characters to see which would be
the most popular. Porky was among
them (the other characters were Beans
the Cat the star, Oliver Owl the enemy,
Little Kitty, Ham and Ex, and Tommy
Turtle). In this short Porky wears a green
sweatshirt and was voiced by a man named
Joe Dougherty. Since he actually stuttered,
he took up a lot recording time. Later, he
was fired and Mel Blanc took the job.

The child Porky Pig in Milk and Money

This Porky is actually a kid, director
Tex Avery did most of the cartoons
when Porky's a kid while Frank Tashlin
experimented with a adult Porky. The
child Porky first appeared in Porky 
the Rainmaker, in 1936. (The other
Porky first appeared in 1935.)

The last Porky (with the blue coat and
no pants), first appeared in the late 30's
and early 40's. He mostly co-starred
with Daffy Duck, Charlie Dog, and
sometimes Sylvester. When the ever
popular Bugs Bunny came along,
Porky got less and less main character
and became more of a co-star with
Daffy Duck. He still appears as a
minor character on The Looney
Tunes Show.


And as Porky said...

                   
                                                     Th-th-th That's all folks!

Sincerely,

                  Tai Jackson

A Year And A Week

Can you believe that this blog has been running for a YEAR!? Well a year and a week anyway. I remember how I even started on this blog. This how it happened.

How This Blog Came To Be
It was getting really close to my birthday, on November, 2. I remember my dad and mom was talking about how "smart" I am and my mom said my brain was filled with ideas that I should start my own blog. Well, I was so excited when I heard that, and, well, I guess I got a little carried away. I asked my dad to set me up on one and he said we could do it after supper. (I think the only reason that he said yes was, like I said before, it was close to my birthday.) We got it launched and the day after (my birthday) I got right away with posting on my blog. Let's see some of the stuff that I did on my blog in the past.

Stuff on This Blog
Here's some of the I've done in the past:

Category: Biographies: I've done Mozart's, Beethoven's, Bach's and Da Vinci's biographies.
Category: Planets: Mercury, Venus, Earth, Mars, Jupiter, Saturn, Uranus, Neptune, Pluto
Category: Prehistoric Mammals: Wooly Mammoths, Saber-Tooth Tigers, Giant Ground Sloth, Cave Lion, Giant Beaver, Glyptodons, Baluchitherium, Amphicyon, Sthenrus
Category: Different Kinds of Art
Category: Different Kinds of Music
Category: Medieval Composers: Romios the Melodist, and St. Kassia
Category: Fables

And that'snot all! Look at the other stuff I did and do at this blog!!
                            

Sincerely,
                    Tai Jackson :)