The Adventurer's Club

Indiana Jones, in Paper!

Dan sent me this link. You too can create your own model of Indiana Jones, in paper.

When I first heard that Indy 4 was in the works, I wasn't terribly excited. I love the Indy films, but it seemed as if too much time had passed.

After reading interviews with Ford, Lucas, and Spielberg in the last week, I've changed my mind.

Sure Harrison Ford is in his mid 60's, but they aren't ignoring that. They are recognizing the passage of the last 19 years, and letting the character age.

What a unique idea, acknowledging that our heroes age like everyone else.

I can't wait to see this film.

'til Christy Romano joins Shia Labeouf in Indy 5

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Turning back the Paige

Once upon a time we used to watch TLC. My wife was the primary viewer, but I had no problem watching the avalanche of home shows they foisted upon us. I think I liked the channel because I am so not a handyman kind of guy. I seem to always be painting, but beyond that I hate home repair.

Despite all this I actually liked Trading Spaces. There wasn't much to it. Two families screwing up a room in each other's home with a measly $1000 budget. To be fair sometimes it turned out okay, but a lot of the remodeling was a train wreck.

And then there was Paige Davis.

Paige  was the glue that held the show together. Without her antics it was just another remodeling show. Truth is she was a funny, a little naughty, and yes she was cute in a real person kind of way. If that makes no sense, forgive me, I kind of know what I'm trying to say.

Even Paige knew when the rooms didn't work out.

But it didn't last.

You see, like many stars of  the "tiny" networks Paige quickly grew brighter than the network itself. She landed on Broadway, had a bestselling book, hit videos, and her nuptials became a mini-series.

But once you get that big, the press dogs you wherever you go. Paige, being Paige, was photographed at a Broadway fund raiser doing a mock strip tease.

Those photos were instantly all over the web about the same time she did a fun cover for TV Guide.

This cover features Paige in nothing but wallpaper.

As you can see it's a strictly g-rated photo, but the powers that be, unable to understand what they were dealing with, decided Paige was not the image they wanted.

And TLC let her go.

And Trading Spaces died a quick death.

The story doesn't end there.

A couple years down the road, profits declining, and no longer a force in cable land, TLC came calling.

Paige held firm and agreed to come back under her terms, and only her terms.

Will lightning strike twice?

Who knows, but people are actually watching Trading Spaces again. I actually had to look in a TV guide to see what channel TLC occupied when they announced her return. That's how far TLC had fallen off my radar.

I'm glad because the show is back to real people, doing real projects, with no budget.

Come to think of it, doing things even I can do.

Thanks Paige.

'til TLC makes Trading Spaces, The Movie (maybe not)

Keep the Adventure Alive,

Tom

Indiana Jones Comes to Lego

It's no secret I'm a huge fan of Indiana Jones and I'm thrilled to see Dr. Jones enter the world of Lego.

A few Years back Lego had a series of sets based on the adventure theme with mummies and caves and other Indy type stuff, but they lacked Indy himself. Instead Lego used a character called Johnny Thunder who was Indy in everything but name. Those Adventurer sets were a lot of fun and are probably my favorite Lego sets of all time.

Lego has rectified the omission of Indiana Jones from their Adventurer line with licensed sets no doubt in preparation for this summers release of Indy 4.

'til Short Round becomes a minifig

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Christmas on the Ponderosa

Now I'm showing my age. Another holiday wonder of wonders. Yes boys and girls, it's the Bonanza Christmas album!

This is a genuine camp classic and it wouldn't be Christmas without a party at the Cartwright Ranch. You haven't had your dose of holiday cheer until Little Joe, Hoss, Ben, and all of their party guests serenade you with carols and other merriment.

Simply awesome.

I have to admit this is an acquired taste. My wife simply does not "get" this album at all.

til Adam comes back from that trip to Virginia City

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Give Peace a Chance

We Miss You John.

I have never been a Yoko fan, but in many ways she has kept John and his ideals alive, and I thank her for that.

Visit Imagine Peace

'til War is not the Answer

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

One Last Jump for Evel Knievel

As a child of the 70's I was caught up in the frenzy that was Evel Knievel.

When Evel Knievel attempted his Snake River Canyon jump, in his rocket cycle, I was at the Charlotte Coliseum, ten dollar ticket in hand, to watch the event on closed circuit TV.

Closed circuit TV was of course the predecessor to Pay Per View. Back then you had to go to the Coliseum and pay to watch live events on the big screen. Of course a week later it was free on Wide World of Sports, but I was there, when it happened.

After closed circuit TV came the toys. Chip Tsangarides and I sent Evel's stunt cycle storming down the sidewalk time and time again, jumping the stunt bus and crashing, only to go back and do it again.

Truly one of the great seventies toys.

The Evel Knievel Stunt Cycle

As the years went by, Evel faded from view, but I never forgot the hold that crazy, daring, adventurer had on this ten year old kid.

Thanks Evel, and may your one final jump land you somewhere soft and safe.

'til they realize Evel Knievel invented reality TV

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Wondering About Winnie Part 2

A while back (quite a while) we wrote about Danica McKellar, aka Winnie Cooper from The Wonder Years.

Back then Danica was in the running for a layout in Stuff Magazine, which surprised us, but as we looked into what she was doing it wasn't the photo shoot that was the interesting part, it was the fact that Winnie grew up to be a math geek.

Updating our earlier post, Danica has a book out. It's designed to make math more interesting to teen girls. We flipped through it, and being math geeks ourselves, we proclaim her book, intelligent, fun, and inspired.

If you have a teen girl that hates math, take a look, you just might be surprised.

'til Kevin writes a physics textbook

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

Tonya Kay goes Gremlin

Tonya Kay, aka Creature, from Who Wants to be a Superhero continues to branch out.

Recently we noticed her in a pair of motorcycle insurance commercials.

For those that missed her, Tonya was our favorite hero* on the USA Networks reality superhero show.

Tonya Kay as Creature

Can we have a recount? I'm still looking for that Creature comic book.

We are also quite unhappy that Tonya was in Charlotte at Scarowinds and we missed her. Dang.

Here's a newscast with Tonya Kay in her Scarowinds costume.

And another with Tonya in the classic knife throwing routine.

Lastly, we can't mention Tonya without highlighting her emphasis on Healthy Eating.

'til the folks at Marvel wise up and add Creature to the X-Men

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT

*We also appreciate that she stopped in here at the Tiger Compound to say hi!

Giants Land on DVD

The last of Irwin Allen's 1960's science fiction TV series comes to DVD this summer.

Following the DVD releases of Lost in Space, Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea, and Time Tunnel, Land of the Giants makes it back to the small screen either loved or hated by fans of Irwin's work.

Many fans consider Giants the worst of the four television series and others like Irwin Allen fans in the UK regard it as the high watermark.

I tend to put it below Space, but above most of Voyage and Tunnel.

It's not that it's a great show, none of Irwin's TV is "great". What makes the shows interesting is the vision Irwin had.

Cool spaceships and gadgets abound in his shows, and most of it is stuff you can relate to. Years later I still don't understand the layout of the Enterprise, but I can sketch you a three deck diagram of the Jupiter 2 or a layout of the cabin, engine and passenger area of the Spindrift in just a few minutes.

Even if you don't consider the main ships, the space pod from Lost in Space and the flying sub from Voyage to the Bottom of the Sea are probably the coolest of the smaller ships on TV. I still think Trek's Galileo looks like a flying box, but the space pod looks like it would fly. Heck it even looks like the Apollo lunar lander.

Needless to say, I love the look of Irwin's shows. He may not have surrounded himself with great writers, or even a decent budget, but he had the best prop designers in the business.

Fox has gone all out for this set, issuing it in a commemorative "cage" with reproduction comics, gum cards, uniform patch, and even a Spindrift key chain. Cool. Why didn't they do this for Lost in Space?

'til Deanna Lund gets a space burn

Keep the Adventure alive,

AT

School for Slayers

Here's one for the folks at BuffyCon at UNCG in Greensboro last week. The Con was the conclusion to their "Why Buffy Matters" class. A college class on blonde vampire slayers is a mighty cool thing indeed.

'til WillowCon

Thanks to Melissa Woolfert for her cool "Buffy Animated" designs. I like hers better than the "official" ones.

Keep the Adventure Alive,

AT