Originally Posted By AutoPost This topic is for Discussion of: <a href="http://www.laughingplace.com/w/article/2013/11/14/laughing-place-podcast-197-welcome-to-our-family/" target="_blank"><b>11/14/13: Laughing Place Podcast #197: Welcome To Our Family</b></a>
Originally Posted By SteamboatPhillie Nice to have the podcast back (for now). The discussion about the presidents and CEOs is always too 'inside baseball' for me. And Fanboy, the fact that you got to sit in on the Legend of Korra panel when you don't even watch the show makes me mad. Anyway, to Alex: THANK YOU for saying what I've always felt about Avatar-land. Despite the movie being the top box office hit of all time, the story and characters have had no impact on pop culture, the movie itself has no real fanbase. Nobody quotes Avatar or references or parodies the movie. It's not that I hate Avatar (I haven't seen it) or that I just want to dump on this idea. I want to see Disney succeed at everything they do, but that doesn't mean I'll pretend every idea they float is good. As far as I can tell, the entire selling point of Avatar-land is that Pandora looks pretty. There's a huge gulf between basing a ride or area on something like Star Wars - which has iconic, instantly recognizable characters and lines or moments that have become indelible on pop culture - and Avatar, which made a lot of money in a relatively short period of time and then passed from public sight. How much money is Disney investing in this? Hundreds of millions? Billions? It's something ridiculously high given how little people truly care about Avatar. This isn't Star Wars, it's not Harry Potter. Heck, it's not even Avatar: The Last Airbender. If Disney announced they were signing a deal to create a Last Airbender land, I'd be ecstatic. Not just because I love the franchise, but because Last Airbender and Legend of Korra have a very devoted, very active fanbase. People care about those characters, that world.
Originally Posted By sjdimon Welcome to the Neighborhood! As a lifelong Disney Fan (Animation and Theme Parks primarily) - and a lifelong Northern California/Bay Area resident, it's nice to have you in the area. My latest "claim to Dianey fame" was that I was one of the selected voices/ videos for the "Glow" song that is a part of the new World of Color, Winter Dreams. I have seen the entire video, and it's (overall) really awesome. Once again, WELCOME to NorCal. Great to have you in the area!
Originally Posted By magic0214 Next podcast, I would love to hear your thoughts on ABC's new programming this year! Recently saw my first Disney On Ice, and it was Rockin' Ever After, so I'm glad to know they aren't always that...interesting... Happy to hear the podcast again!
Originally Posted By neekerbell Welcome Alex! Happy to have my first and favorite Disney podcast back, and now live in my neighborhood. Not sad I skipped Tarzan down the street, learned my lesson with the Lescher production of Grease. Always up for a drive if you need a carpool buddy to Anaheim. Looking forward to hearing more of your west coast reactions.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I know I'm a little late to the party, but I finally had a chance to listen to the podcast today. I can't believe how grown up Gideon is these days! Like what Phillie said, I want Disney to invest in quality additions for the parks. I realize that they're not going to completely redo major areas every 3-5 years. With that, I'm concerned about the choice of Avatar. It's not the worst thing in the world, but I just wonder how relevant and practical it will be in 10-15 years. I can't wait to keep hearing more from you guys!
Originally Posted By schnebs Welcome back guys, and welcome aboard, Alex! It was nice to hear Gideon on the show (both in his own segment and as the LPP's laugh track). You guys realize that you've made one of my bold predictions for 2013 come true, right? (Speaking of which, it's almost that time again, everybody, get those gears turnin'...) The recent passing of Diane Disney-Miller makes the discussion of Legends and CEOs a little less inside baseball than you might think. I think the Company had resisted making Diane a Legend becuse they knew she'd refuse if her husband Ron wasn't made one as well, and part of the resistance to making Ron a Legend was that they'd have to tackle the issue of making Michael one as well. (The fact the Diane never worked for Disney isn't a factor - her mom and her aunt were made Legends based more on their family ties than on any work they did for the Company.) I can't see how the Company can refuse to acknowlege her efforts to preserve her father's image and his legacy (which also enhances the Company's image and legacy). I'll be the first person to acknowledge that there's still a lot of bad blood between prominent current and former employees of the Company and Michael Eisner. But love him or hate him, you have to acknowledge the the Company as we know it today wouldn't exist without Michael, and that will have to be acknowledged at some point by making him a Legend. That's just as true for Ron, although many people don't realize it. I think that come 2015, we may see Ron and Michael on stage to get Legends awards - and that should really be one really interesting ceremony. As far as Avatarland, I'm willing to go into this with an open mind - it's not the first time that Disney's made an attraction based on a project that wasn't enormously popular. (Swiss Family Robinson and Third Man on the Mountain, for example.) The appeal of Avatar is the look and the possible immersive experience, not the movie's plot or the characters, so if WDI can get it right, the results could be amazing.
Originally Posted By FerretAfros >>I can't see how the Company can refuse to acknowlege her efforts to preserve her father's image and his legacy (which also enhances the Company's image and legacy).<< Not to mention she and her sister were the inspiration for Disneyland, which arguably spawned the multi-armed media conglomerate we know today. Without working for TWDC, she's had more of an impact than many people who have been named Legends, even those with great credentials like Barbara Walters. As for Eisner, I fully agree that he should be made a Legend. I know that there's still some bad blood in the water, but he did a lot to turn the Company around and set it in a new direction. I don't know enough about Ron's time in charge, but I would assume he'll get one eventually too, along with the other various CEOs
Originally Posted By schnebs That's jsut is - except for Walt and Roy, the only CEOs of the Company who haven't been named Legends are Ron, Michael, and Bob (and don't doubt for a minute that Bob won't be named a Legend just before or soon after he retires from the Company). Maybe I'm being naive, but I think naming Ron and Michael Legends simultaneously might help to alleviate a bit of that bad blood in the Company - give folks a chance to bury the hatchet and move on. But hey, what do I know? I'm only a fan.
Originally Posted By schnebs Sorry, meant to say "That's just it." My first bold prediction for 2014 - the LP discussion board gets an edit function!
Originally Posted By FerretAfros I agree that it would be a great move toward easing the tensions. Heck, it's been almost a decade, can't they get over it? And didn't Michael handpick Bob as his replacement? I assume Bob isn't the entire Legends committee, but he probably has a major say in them. I don't know what their relationship is/was like, but it seems like they didn't completely despise each other
