Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Let's see... I believe I still have DL's 30th, Xmas at WDW '78, Light Magic, Tomorrowland '98, Spring Break '87 at DL and various holiday parades. I think I have WDW's 15th which is hosted by Bea Arthur and Betty White. These specials are on Beta, whereas the Light Magic and TL '98 ones were on VHS... in fact, the latter two were shown on my *UPN* affiliate while all the others were shown on NBC or ABC. Well... the 30th was syndicated, but it was pretty awesome. Sure there were song-and-dance numbers that were unnecessary, but you had clips of all the attractions (in both filmed and taped mode), as well as the AAs "singing" the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited."
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Ah, and as for that DCA special, I believe, without going to Dug's link for IMDb.com, it was Colin Mochrie and Brad Sherwood as the security guards. At the time, they were on 'Whose Line is it Anyway?' with Wayne Brady, Ryan Stiles and Drew "Geppetto" Carey. Colin Mochrie is currently in commercials as the Nabisco Snack Fairy.
Originally Posted By hlbtimes2 They had a special mixed in with Princess Diaries one Sunday night last year. It was during a Sunday night "World of Disney". It was hosted by John Stamos (at least I think that is who I remember). They cut to him in the park talking about the 50th at commercials.
Originally Posted By DlandDug >>...as well as the AAs "singing" the Pointer Sisters' "I'm So Excited."<< Ah yes. I'll never forget Abraham Lincoln lip syncing "I think I like it!" A true nadir in taste...
Originally Posted By darthtiki >>Maybe there was no special because these shows haven't drawn ratings in years. The general public would rather watch American Idol or wrestling.<< The public actually isn't watching wrestling as much anymore, judging by the ratings and the declining attendance numbers
Originally Posted By TheRedhead ^^Is that really true about wrestling ratings? I haven't paid any real attention to the "sport" in a long, long time, but last week's ratings said that the top 2 rated cable programs were wrestling shows. Is that down from the past?
Originally Posted By spaceace I liked the one for Splash Mountain when it opened. It was like Ernest goes to Splash Mountain. He was the first to ride the ride or something like that. That one was funny you know what I mean Vern?
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs <<DlandDug: Ah yes. I'll never forget Abraham Lincoln lip syncing "I think I like it!" A true nadir in taste...>> Actually, he was the last AA featured before the camera cuts to hosts John Forsythe and Drew Barrymore coming out of his attraction. And Lincoln actually says, "I want you! I want you!" I guess Dug wasn't amused by the AAs, lol. Oh, and for the record, these were the featured AAs/attractions in the "I'm So Excited" number: Grand Canyon/Primeval World Lincoln Tiki Room Jungle Cruise Pirates Mansion Country Bears Alice in Wonderland Small World America Sings
Originally Posted By Brian55nh What I remember finding surprising is someone had actually gone and taken the time to go and re-program a good many figures to now lip-sync with the song lyrics. I was further thrilled being the HM fan I am to see that close-up of the female half of the graveyard English couple intoning "...we're going to party all night long..."
Originally Posted By DlandDug There was no reprogramming involved, really. They just found lip movements that vaguely matched the lyric and edited away!
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs That's what I thought as well, as some of the "I'm So Excited" AAs don't match their 'normal' voices, ie Mother Possum from America Sings, or Jose from the Tiki Room. I still think it was one of the coolest things Disney had ever done for a TV special. All we need to do now is recreate Disneyland Showtime with Dug, Darkbeer, I57, oc_dean and SchmittyGoodVibes as the Osmond Brothers (since no one's seen him, Schmitty can be Donny, lol) and JB as EJ Peaker the Movie Star.
Originally Posted By DlandDug I say we write our own cheesy 50th Birthday special. I'll start. ESTABLISHING SHOT: Firehouse on Main Street. DISSOLVE TO: Interior. Art Linkletter is sitting in an easy chair, with Aly and A.J. sitting on the floor, eagerly studying a large souvenir map of Disneyland. ART stares intently to the left of the camera and speaks. ART: So, girls, what do you want to see first? A.J.: I want to blast the Evil Emperor Zurg at Buzz Lightyear Astro Blasters, inspired ny Disney-Pixar's Toy Story 2. ALY: You're such an infant! I want to shop. You know-- another day, another limited edition pin! (laugh track goes berserk) ART: Well, you girls head over to the Emporium, and I'll be right along, after I look through this book I found on the end table here. And don't get lost! DISSOLVE TO: Opening titles, superimposed over lavishly decorated Sleeping Beauty Castle. As each guest star is mentioned by name, a cameo image of them on a different Disneyland attraction appears briefly on screen. Now there's an opening just rife with possibility!
Originally Posted By hiddencat3 ^^^^Yeah! Sounds perfect! Nice tie-in with Aly and A.J. Gives it a nice cheesy touch. Just because something is cheesy doesn't mean it will get bad ratings. I think American Idol and Dancing with the Stars are both pretty cheesy shows (yes, I watch both of them regularly), but they both pull in over 20 million viewers each week.
Originally Posted By FiveBearRugs Don't forget to have a musical number every five minutes. In between numbers, you must also mention the history of DL, with something like "Walt was a magical man" or the addition of HISTA in 1998.
Originally Posted By BrerOtter Think this might explain why no TV special. Why give it away for free when you can sell it? <a href="http://laughingplace.com/Latest.asp?I1=ID&I2=1159" target="_blank">http://laughingplace.com/Lates t.asp?I1=ID&I2=1159</a>
