Originally posted by Ben on February 14, 2002 at 16:12:22:

Waylon Smithers'

Not only are they releasing unedited episodes (as opposed to the Barnabas-centric versions on the initial VHS releases)

Hi, John, you lost me there. Since I have only the special compilation MPI videos ("DS Bloopers," "DS Behind the Scenes," etc.), I don't know what got edited out of the original MPI releases of complete episodes. Could you kindly explain?

Thanks,
Ben

Posted by Ben on February 10, 2002 at 08:07:48:
In Reply to: OT: Thirty EIGHT years ago tonight!! posted by RingoCollins on February 09, 2002 at 09:02:43:

RingoCollins'

But I have a better appreciation for those things that are important, the things that give us comfort, give us happiness, that I love dearly. I intend to have my 2/9 ritual of replaying the video tonight, and I am gonna call my dad, and just say 'hi', have a nice dinner with my wife, have a game of tug-o-war with the pooch. Today is kind of a 'holiday'. Mom said 'leaders must be judged by their followers'. Leaders, teach love.

Wonderful sentiments, Ringo. I remember my mom and my aunt totally befuddled by the audience hysteria for a bunch of wild, long-haired lightweights. At the time, my six-year-old mind had no reason to doubt them.

Four years later, when I was in fifth grade and starting to get into pop music, I was mesmerized by a couple of awesome records -- "Hello Goodbye" and "Good Day Sunshine" -- and wondered who recorded them. I started getting into Beatles -- first, their hits and later, their albums.

In college, my garage band did a lot of Beatles covers (in addition to Chicago and the Beach Boys). Twenty years later, a third of the tunes done by the bar band I was in were Beatles classics. I loved those richly textured vocal harmonies on "Rain," "Tell Me Why," "And Your Bird Can Sing," and "Please Please Me." I also thought it was neat that I could play the harmonica line on that latter song, as well as the hand-claps on "Eight Days a Week," on my keyboard synthesizer.

In the meantime, I worked out my own solo piano bar arrangements of tunes like "In My Life," "Penny Lane," and most recently, "Here Comes the Sun." I'm now getting a bassist and drummer to work out a jazzy take on "A Hard Day's Night."

So I guess you could say that it was ironic -- and fortunate -- the way things turned out for me in the 38 years following 2/9/64.

Ben

Posted by Ben on February 08, 2002 at 19:58:31:
In Reply to: Re: A Heartfelt Suggestion for Dr. H. posted by Bob the Bartender on February 08, 2002 at 14:50:51:

How thoughtful of you to send a client referral my way, Bob the B!

I see two concerns here. First, Barnabas would need to appear at the trial, so that he can show the jury the results of Dr. H's alleged malpractice. Unfortunately, unless the trial is held at night (most trials are not), Barnabas could not attend.

Second, there is the possibility that Barnabas could appear via a videotaped evidence deposition, wherein his testimony could be recorded in advance of the trial and simply shown to the jury on a video monitor. Although technically possible, having Barnabas appear only on videotape and not in open court would start jurors wondering whether he is all that interested in his case -- that is, if a videocam could capture his reflected image any better than a mirror ...

Ben
(bracing myself to be strangled by Barnabas when I break this news to him)

Originally posted by Ben on February 07, 2002 at 06:30:40:

Bob the Bartender's

PS Do you think that Barnabas would have remembered that the correct city was Belem?

Yes, although if it were he and Liz standing by the phone, I could hear him saying, "You must mean Belem, Vicki -- er, Julia -- er, Elizabeth ..."

Ben

Originally posted by Ben on February 05, 2002 at 19:08:10:

As Julia was stiring her secret formula to cure Barnabas, it looked as if she were tossing marshmallows into that exotic crockpot in the Old House basement. Perhaps, friend Willy Loomis might have used Cracker Jacks instead.

Astute observation, Bob the B! In today's era of all-too-realistic (and surrealistic) special effects, it's comforting to be able to count on Julia's lab (and its electrical dials, gauges, mist, and steamy concoctions) to revive in me that quaint, seventh grade science class feeling.

Ben

Posted by Ben on February 04, 2002 at 18:19:15:
In Reply to: understanding Dan posted by lily on February 04, 2002 at 11:31:04:

[spoiler]The Leviathan evil is'nt as interisting as these early epiodes.[/spoiler]

I agree, Lily. [spoiler]The Leviathan evil was programmed into him when he was intercepted on his way back from 1795 to the present,[/spoiler]whereas his current evil streak seems to be the culmination of the never-ending tragedies, curses, and bitter disappointments in his own life (and death and thereafter). Perhaps that's why he is so motivated to take things out on Julia, the one person who really tried to help him -- and, like all the rest, failed him, at least as far as he was concerned.

Ben

Originally posted by Ben on the Dark Shadows: General Discussion Forum on February 02, 2002 at 06:03:01:

John, I checked the Dark Shadows Journal Online and couldn't seem to find any reference to a "DS Memories" DVD, only KLS' current book of the same title. I also checked the MPI website but couldn't find any section for upcoming releases. The only DVD advertised was the "DS Special Edition" that came out last summer.

But when I checked Amazon.com, I found that a "DS Memories" DVD is scheduled for release on April 26; there is no track or other info listed. Amazon.com also listed two more DVDs to be released on April 30: a DS Set Vol. 1 and a DS Set Vol. 2.

Ben

Originally posted by Ben on the Dark Shadows: General Discussion Forum on January 31, 2002 at 07:47:14:

How foolish of Dr. Woodard to confront Barnabas about his sister -- er, ancestor, Sarah. And that was followed by the smug look on the good doctor's face as he exited the Old House. The only thing he didn't do was break into a sing-song, "I know your secret! I know your secret!"

Instead of advancing his discreet investigation, Dr. Woodard has now succeeded in raising Barnabas' paranoia and making himself a target of Barnabas' suspicions.

I guess the doctor's blunder was necessary to advance the plot and preserve Barnabas and Julia. But the blunder will prove to be a costly one.

Bad move, Dave.

Ben
(still hoarse from yelling at my TV)