Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 88 “Hit the Road Jack”

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In our Disney Detective, Virtual D23 Event this coming week & Are Jack Sparrow’s Days coming to an end?

Then in our Tales from the Edge of the Galaxy, What did Yoda really know… and why George made changes

And for our Entertainment News, The character that Stan Lee forgot & The Orville is starting up production

And then we’ll finish up with our Insightful Picks of the week….

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Show Notes

[INTRO THEME]

  • [INTRODUCTIONS] (2-3 minutes)
    • Insights Into Entertainment: Episode 88 “Hit the Road Jack”
    • My creative and inspired co-host Michelle Whalen

[SHOW SUMMARY] (2-3 minutes)

  • Today’s Episode:
    • In our Disney Detective, Virtual D23 Event this coming week & Are Jack Sparrow’s Days coming to an end?
    • Then in our Tales from the Edge of the Galaxy, What did Yoda really know… and why George made changes
    • And for our Entertainment News, The character that Stan Lee forgot & The Orville is starting up production
    • And then we’ll finish up with our Insightful Picks of the week….

[Show Plugs] (2-3 minutes)

[TRANSITION]

  • Ahead of next week’s D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration virtual event, Disney has released additional information on the exciting lineup of Disney Parks presenters that will participate across five days of panels, spanning from Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge to Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure. The event takes place November 16 – 20 on D23.com
  • You can watch them either on 
    • D23.com,
    • Facebook.com/DisneyD23
    • YouTube.com/DisneyD23
  • Monday, November 16
  • The Fantasia Legacy: A Conversation with Eric Goldberg
  • Premieres: 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
  • In celebration of the 80th anniversary of Fantasia and the 20th anniversary of Fantasia/2000, enjoy this special retrospective with master animator, Eric Goldberg of Walt Disney Animation Studios, one of the key creators of Fantasia/2000. Tune in for a look at the beautiful sights and sounds of the beloved Disney classics.
  • Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge – Storytelling through Merchandise
  • Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
  • Meet the Disney Theme Park Merchandising team who help to bring Batuu to life as they explore the rich storytelling that goes into the exotic and authentic imports of Star Wars: Galaxy’s Edge!
    • Tuesday, November 17
  • Marvel’s 616 Uncovered
  • Premieres: 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
  • Get an exclusive first look at this exciting new Disney+ docuseries with Executive Producers Sarah Amos and Jason Sterman, and Directors Clay Jeter and Brian Oakes. Get a glimpse into these remarkable stories, showcasing the intersections of storytelling, pop culture, and fandom within the Marvel Universe.
  • Start streaming all episodes of Marvel’s 616 November 20 on Disney+!
  • Marvel Comics Celebrates 80 Years of Captain America
  • Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
  • A journey eight decades in the making! Join Marvel Comics Editor-in-Chief C.B Cebulski and Executive Editor Tom Brevoort as they follow the All-American Avenger through the comics, pop culture, and onto the big screen!
    • Wednesday, November 18
  • Globetrotting with Mickey Mouse and the Walt Disney Archives
  • Premieres: 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
  • D23 Gold Member Exclusive – Register Now!
  • D23 Gold and Gold Family Members are in for a special treat as we travel the globe to celebrate the birthday of the leader of the club himself, Mickey Mouse! Dive into exciting stories of the international icon with rarely seen images and a fascinating look at the Walt Disney Archives. Join the team from the Archives as we celebrate Mickey’s Birthday with a look at his globetrotting adventures, bringing happiness to all corners of this fantastic world.
  • Celebrate Mickey & Minnie on Their Birthday
  • Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
  • All Aboard! Join us for the ultimate birthday celebration for everyone’s favorite pals, Mickey and Minnie! The virtual birthday party will include a look at the new Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at Disney’s Hollywood Studios, a sneak peek of the Disney+ series The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse, and many more birthday surprises in store.
  • Be sure to visit Mickey & Minnie’s Runaway Railway at the Walt Disney World Resort and watch The Wonderful World of Mickey Mouse on Disney+ beginning November 18!
  • Thursday, November 19
  • Walt Disney World: Destination Tomorrow
  • Premieres: 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
  • Once you decide you are going to Walt Disney World, the fun really begins. The dreaming, planning and sharing of excitement takes on a magic of its own. Hear from fellow planners as they share their secrets on creating a memorable vacation to The Most Magical Place on Earth and discover how a great big beautiful tomorrow is just a dream away.
  • EPCOT – The Magic of Possibility
  • Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
  • Learn about the Magic of Possibility at EPCOT and how this park is transforming today and building toward the future. You’ll hear about the making of Remy’s Ratatouille Adventure and what it takes to bring this animated favorite to life in the France pavilion.
    • Friday, November 20
  • Toy Story 25th – All new 5 Facts Video!
  • Premieres: 2 p.m. PT / 5 p.m. ET
  • Celebrate 25 years of Toy Story, and throw back to our favorite group of toys, uncovering some rarely heard stories and facts about Pixar’s first feature film!
  • Creating Fantastic Worlds: A Journey into Disney Worldbuilding
  • Premieres: 3 p.m. PT / 6 p.m. ET
  • D23 Gold Member Exclusive – Register Now!
  • From San Fransokyo and Wakanda to Treasure Cove, Mustafar, and beyond, enjoy the ultimate conclusion to D23 Fantastic Worlds Celebration as we bring together creative wizards from across the realms of Disney to share a collective look behind the magic in creating the worlds that we all love.
  • ALL WEEK
  • All week, our friends at Topps will be releasing D23 Fantastic Worlds-themed digital collectibles, including a special D23 Member exclusive! Visit D23.com to learn more and be sure to check out the Disney Collect!, Marvel Collect!, and Star Wars: Card Trader by Topps apps to collect them all!
  • Jack Sparrow in Pirates of the Caribbean Rides: Will Disney Remove Depp?
  • https://insidethemagic.net/2020/11/jack-sparrow-potc-ad1/?fbclid=IwAR2TwphRzlDqr3VV_B1QyrNv3vW0gWVHl9GrjcBoq87saXPO-Cc-Y0SAYek
  • https://bit.ly/3ky1Vcv 
    • One of the most classic rides you can experience at any Disney Park is Pirates of the Caribbean. Whether you are boarding the classic ship at Disneyland, or get to ride the mind-boggling advancements of Shanghai’s version, one thing is always the same: you get to see Jack Sparrow. Well, what if Disney decides to remove the beloved Pirates of the Caribbean character from all of its attractions?
    • If you are a fan of Johnny Depp, you likely know he lost his Libel case against ex-wife Amber Heard in a domestic violence dispute. From what we know, the UK High Court ruled in favor of News Group Newspapers, stating:
      • Judge Andrew Nicol said in his judgment Monday that the paper’s claims had been shown to be “substantially true.” 
      • “I have reached these conclusions having examined in detail the 14 incidents on which the defendants rely, as well as the over-arching considerations which the claimant submitted I should take into account,” the judge said.
    • After the news broke, we began hearing reports that Depp was losing his iconic movie roles. He was asked to step down from Warner Bros. and let his fans know, “I wish to let you know that I have been asked to resign by Warner Bros. from my role as Grindelwald in Fantastic Beasts and I have respected and agreed to that request.”
    • So it seems that we will not be seeing Johnny Depp in the Harry Potter spin-off franchise any longer. For Disney fans, the loss comes with Johnny Depp’s character in Pirates of the Caribbean, Jack Sparrow. The comedic, drunk pirate character that Depp created is the clear star of the franchise, but we recently heard that Disney was reportedly scrapping any plans for bringing Johnny Depp back for the sixth Pirates of the Caribbean film.
    • With the possible removal of Jack Sparrow from the POTC franchise, it may be possible that the Jack Sparrow animatronic character will be removed from the attractions across all Disney Parks. Disney Parks began incorporating Johnny Depp as Jack Sparrow into their Pirates attractions in 2006. But, with the possibility of him being removed from the films, it could be possible that Disney would streamline that decision into their attractions.
    • The update of having Jack Sparrow in the attraction was also perfect for its time, but now, being a 14-year update, many Guests visiting the parks may not have grown up with the character as we have. Perhaps as the attraction ages and Disney brings new enhancements to it, they will opt to remove Jack or change elements of the storyline altogether to breathe new life into an attraction that has been around for decades. After all, the original Pirates ride at Disneyland in California did not include Jack Sparrow for decades.
    • At this time, Disney has not mentioned removing Jack Sparrow from its attractions from Disney World to Disneyland Paris (and every other Disney Park where the attraction is located), but it is something that wouldn’t be too shocking, given recent circumstances.

[AD 1: SSE]

  • [SEGMENT 2: Tales from the Edge of the Galaxy] (8-12 minutes)
    • Star Wars finally confirms something we suspected all along
    • https://www.looper.com/276441/star-wars-finally-confirms-something-we-suspected-all-along/
    • https://bit.ly/35wgCZ9 
      • Over four decades have passed since George Lucas first took movie lovers to a galaxy far, far away for his operatic sci-fi opus Star Wars, and though recent additions to the franchise have proven divisive at best (see both the sequel trilogy and Lucas’ own prequel films), the franchise continues to surprise, delight, and inspire fans of every generation. Those films also continue to inspire heated debate among fans, with Star Wars buffs ranking among the most fevered and knowledgeable in film history.
      • It’s no surprise, then, that Star Wars creatives have continued fill narrative gaps and saga plotholes over the years. For a certain legion of fans, however, there remained a burning question regarding the Skywalker Saga that seemed to seriously undermine narrative continuity between Lucas’ prequel films and the middle film of the original trilogy.
      • That film is 1980’s landmark sequel Star Wars: Episode V – The Empire Strikes Back, which is obviously best known for its iconic, rug-pulling twist about Luke Skywalker’s lineage. It’s also where fans got their first glimpse of franchise favorite Yoda. The Jedi master was introduced when Luke (Mark Hamill) set off to Dagobah to continue his training in the ways of the Force, doing so with his fateful droid R2-D2 in tow. After crash landing into a swamp, the duo meet a kooky old creature who turns out to be the wise old Jedi they are searching for. 
      • The problem, as some fans see it, is that Yoda doesn’t seem to recognize the droid in the moment, which is odd because they definitely shared time fighting a common enemy in the Clone Wars of the prequels. Per a recently published book, however, it’s finally been confirmed that Yoda actually did recognize R2-D2. 
      • Said confirmation came in the recently published anthology From a Certain Point of View: The Empire Strikes Back. Released in celebration of The Empire Strikes Back’s 40th anniversary, From a Certain Point of View is essentially a retelling of the film’s events as seen through the eyes of secondary characters. And yes, one of those stories, “The First Lesson” by Jim Zub, finds Yoda recounting his first meeting with the now-adult Luke Skywalker (having witnessed his birth in Star Wars: Episode III – Revenge of the Sith). 
      • That meeting is initially played for laughs in The Empire Strikes Back, of course, with Yoda putting on the “crazy old alien” ruse to test the mettle of his would-be pupil. As seen through Yoda’s eyes in this excerpt, the moment unfolds much differently, with the cunning Jedi watching Luke from afar before acknowledging he knew well the droid by young Skywalker’s side. 
      • “Carefully moving through the swamp while staying beneath the fog, Yoda soon spotted the boy and his droid unpacking their supplies,” Zub writes. “Even though the droid was caked with algae, dirt, and stomach fluid, its appearance and familiar blips were still quite recognizable. R2-D2. Of course the boy had Anakin’s old droid with him. Such cycles of fate no longer surprised the nine-hundred-year-old Jedi.”
      • So it seems Yoda’s ruse indeed included not acknowledging R2, which puts to rest one of the more debated plot-holes in Star Wars lore. But those last two sentences are particularly astute too, with Yoda humbly recognizing the dramatic turns of fate that brought R2-D2 and Luke Skywalker together so many years after the droid had served the boy’s father.  
  • George Lucas went back and changed the original Star Wars trilogy because he was “embarrassed” by some shots
  • https://www.gamesradar.com/george-lucas-went-back-and-changed-the-original-star-wars-trilogy-because-he-was-embarrassed-by-some-shots/
  • https://bit.ly/36Fp6g9 
    • The Star Wars Special Editions are a point of contention among some diehard fans. The changes – both minor and major – from the re-releases of the original trilogy across the late ‘90s and into the mid-’00s still stick in the craw of many who perceived the originals to be untouchable.
    • George Lucas, though, has revealed why he went back to tinker and tweak A New Hope, The Empire Strikes Back, and Return of the Jedi.
    • In Taschen’s new coffee table book, Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005, the Star Wars creator revealed, “There are two or three shots that are really bad and I know that [1977’s Star Wars] is going to be judged on that. I was embarrassed. In 1993, the 20th anniversary was coming up and that was the impetus for doing a Special Edition of A New Hope – to bring it up to the standard we were aiming for.”
    • Lucas points out one scene in particular, a Stormtrooper riding a dewback during the extended Mos Eisley opening, as something he wanted to include and do justice at the time, but couldn’t due to the technology available.
    • The success of that first re-release gave Lucas the desire to go back and re-do some aspects from the other two movies in the trilogy – and it’s clear that he was perpetually striving for perfection after being left dissatisfied back in 1977.
    • “Nobody ever really finishes their movies; they’re abandoned… I was not happy with A New Hope. I was still mixing and we were still sticking shots in after the film came out,” Lucas explained.
    • While it may not quell Han Shot First truthers or those who can’t get over seeing Hayden Christensen’s ghost in Return of the Jedi, but at least Lucas has his reasons.
    • Star Wars Archives: 1999-2005 is now available to buy via Taschen – and includes more on George Lucas’s plans for a sequel trilogy.

[AD 2: TEENS]

  • [SEGMENT 3: Entertainment News] (8-12 minutes)
    • The popular Marvel character Stan Lee forgot he created
    • https://www.looper.com/278228/the-popular-marvel-character-stan-lee-forgot-he-created/
    • https://bit.ly/3lxHjSW 
      • It’s hard to imagine that Stan Lee has been gone for two years now.
      • On November 12, 2018, the world was shook when Lee, the co-creator of some of the most popular fictional characters of all time like Spider-Man, Iron Man, and the X-Men, had passed away at the age of 95. He helped make Marvel the entertainment juggernaut it is today. He wrote some of the best comic book stories ever made, and the characters he helped create continue to proliferate the movies and TV shows we still watch today. Lee led a rich, full life, and in the years right before his passing, people waited carefully, in practically every Marvel movie, for Lee to make one of his patented cameos. It’s safe to say Lee’s legacy will live on forever, both in the stories he told, and the lives he touched. 
      • However, while Lee was an instrumental force in developing a stunning number of Marvel heroes and villains, he certainly didn’t write all of them. Lee didn’t create Venom, Luke Cage, or Wolverine, to name a few, and sometimes, he even forgot which characters he was involved in creating. 
      • Recently, Guardians of the Galaxy director James Gunn took to Twitter to tell fans a quick little anecdote about how Lee forgot that he’d created one of the most popular characters in the Marvel Cinematic Universe. 
      • On November 12, 2020, Gunn honored the comic book legend with these kind words: “One of the great joys of my life was getting to know @TheRealStanLee & working with him on multiple occasions. He was a wonderful guy & a true role model outside of all he gave to the world – & me personally – creatively. It’s hard to believe it’s been 2 years since he’s passed.”
      • Gunn followed up the post by noting an exchange he had with Lee. “I still remember him telling me how much he loved the first Guardians film, even though he didn’t create them. ‘You created Groot,’ I told him. ‘I did?!’ he said. He’d forgotten achievements that would sustain other creatives for a lifetime. I miss you, Stan. ‘Nuff said.”
      • To be fair, Lee co-created a lot of characters, and it had been well over 50 years since he came up with Groot. 
      • Lee, along with Larry Lieber, Jack Kirby, and Dick Ayers, first put the monster to paper in Tales to Astonish #13, all the way back in November 1960 (via Insider): Groot, in fact, predated the creation of the collective Marvel Universe. During his first appearance, Groot couldn’t utter his famous line, “I am Groot.” Instead, he merely communicated through various indistinct sounds. He also wasn’t a protector of the stars, as is the case in the Guardians of the Galaxy movies — instead, he came to Earth to abduct humans and conduct experiments on them. It’s a far cry from where the character evolved, but without Lee and company’s imagination and innovation, we’d be deprived of the talking tree we all know and love today. 
  • Exclusive: ‘The Orville’ Season 3 Is Returning To Production In December
  • https://trekmovie.com/2020/11/09/exclusive-the-orville-season-3-is-returning-to-production-in-december/?fbclid=IwAR2MayC-K73PyghaLjZoGGr2_h5nH336Z9INQ8V7l36FOiqPEYlCGdqYrIU
  • https://bit.ly/35ssziC 
    • Step by step, film and television production is slowly resuming, even as the pandemic continues. Star Trek: Discovery started production on season four a week ago in Toronto, and Picard is set to get going on season two in January in Southern California. And we just got word that The Orville, Seth MacFarlane’s homage to Star Trek: The Next Generation, is ramping up to restart production on its third season in December.
    • The Orville is returning to space
    • Like other productions, filming on The Orville was put on hold when Hollywood went on lockdown in March. Shooting on the third season had started in October 2019 and they were a bit shy of halfway done at the time of the halt. According to a source with the production, cameras will start rolling again in the first week of December.
    • Prep work for restarting season three has already begun, with some people already at work on the Fox lot in Century City, CA. Most of the cast and crew are expected to be on set after Thanksgiving weekend for rehearsals and to do some pick-up shots. Production will continue through December until the Christmas and New Year break, and then restart in early January.
    • It is expected that work under strict COVID protocols to complete season three will take five or six months in total. Production will restart on the Fox lot, with location shooting in Southern California also being planned. The Orville creator/executive producer Seth MacFarlane and executive producer Jon Cassar will continue to split directing duties for the rest of the season.
    • As of now, there isn’t a target date for The Orville season three’s debut on Hulu, but the team’s hope is to start the season before the end of 2021. Season three will consist of eleven episodes, each of which will have a longer runtime than episodes from the first two seasons, which aired on Fox Broadcast Network.
    • This is a work of deep passion for Seth, and it’s a really great season. I think you would be hard pressed to find anyone on the show that isn’t eager to get back to work, as long as it is safe. The shot delay is simply COVID, but it’s also taking longer to film because it’s so much more ambitious even in its scope, in comparison to the first two seasons. And that’s partly because it’s on Hulu, and we can expand the scope and increase the length of the episodes, and all the reasons Seth wanted to take it to a streaming service. 

[TRANSITION]

  • [SEGMENT 4: Insightful Picks of the Week] (8-12 minutes)
    • Michelle 
      • SONG EXPLODER: A NETFLIX DOCUMENTARY SERIES
      • Netflix
      • https://www.netflix.com/title/80992997 
      • https://bit.ly/38J07en 
      • Volume 1 is out now, featuring Alicia Keys, Lin-Manuel Miranda, R.E.M., and Ty Dolla $ign. Volume 2 coming December 15! featuring Dua Lipa, Nine Inch Nails, The Killers, and Natalia Lafourcade.
      • Song Exploder is a podcast where musicians take apart their songs, and piece by piece, tell the story of how they were made. Each episode is produced and edited by host and creator Hrishikesh (Rush Hagesh) Hirway in Los Angeles. Using the isolated, individual tracks from a recording, Hrishikesh asks artists to delve into the specific decisions that went into creating their work. Hrishikesh edits the interviews, removing his side of the conversation and condensing the story to be tightly focused on how the artists brought their songs to life. Guests include Fleetwood Mac, U2, Metallica, Solange, Lorde, Yo-Yo Ma, Carly Rae Jepsen, and more.
    • Joe
      • The Boys
      • Amazon Prime
      • https://www.amazon.com/The-Boys-Season-1/dp/B07QNJCXZK
      • https://amzn.to/3lxNVRj 
      • The Boys is an irreverent take on what happens when superheroes, who are as popular as celebrities, as influential as politicians and as revered as Gods, abuse their superpowers rather than use them for good. It’s the powerless against the super powerful as The Boys embark on a heroic quest to expose the truth about “the Seven”, and their formidable Vought backing.
      • Two seasons, currently available on Amazon Prime

[TRANSITION]

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