Female Warrior Toylines that failed

She-Ra Princess of  (1985) is best known of the following which I call female warriors but others might refer to as female He-Mans. She-Ra was He-Man's sister. She-Ra had a main male villain, Hordak who was supposed to be He-Man's villain, he even came as a He-Man toy and was not part of the She-Ra toy line. Catra, Entrapa and Double Face were the only villainesses in the toy line. She-Ra had dolls, coloring books, storybooks, posters, stickers, birthday stuff, her own animated series, and now DVDs. She was the only popular one. The other ones were ignored.

 

Golden Girl and the Guardians of Gemstone (1983)

Galoob came out with this toy line in 1983, it predates She-Ra. They had t-shirts, coloring books, board games and books. It somehow is remembered by toy fans but it was pretty much forgotten. It has a unique distinction of having a group of villainesses. They didn't have an animated series.

For more information on Golden Girl: http://www.thelaironstormisle.com/

 

Wonder Woman and the Star Riders (1992)

Probably done to have a recognizable Wonder Woman to attract the toyline but it didn't really work... actually it wasn't even released! Mattel made the prototypes. The only thing that exist that gave me an inkling about this was a mini comic that came with Minibuns. I got it thanks to a speech teacher I had, I think she got it from there. Anyways, the dolls were later used for Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic.

http://www.toyotter.com/actiongirl/starriders/

 

Saban's Tenko and the Guardians of the Magic (1995)

A cartoon doesn't equal a hit. Tenko wasn't exactly a warrior but the dolls of Wonder Woman and the Star Riders were used for Tenko. Tenko was a real life magician and she had live-action segments. This show aired on Fox Kids and was produced by Saban Entertainment, who is responsible for Power Rangers. It was canceled after one year.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenko_and_the_Guardians_of_the_Magic

 

Princess Gwenevere and the Jewel Riders (1995-1996)

This show lasted two seasons and it was syndicated. It had a toyline. It had fans but it didn't last passed two years and it is not as memorable as She-Ra. She was known as Starla outside of the US. Other Arthurian characters in the show include Merlin and Lady of the Lake. It was a pretty good series.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Princess_Gwenevere_and_the_Jewel_Riders

 

Related: http://spanengrish.blogspot.com/2012/06/golden-girl-and-gaurdians-of-gemstone.html | http://spanengrish.blogspot.com/2006/07/best-of-she-rasecret-of-sword-review.html

Unused or Discarded Disney Characters

While developing a script or a movie, creators have to get rid of a character or no longer see the need for it. Or the character evolves into something better.

 

Little Mermaid

Ariel not only had Flounder and Sebastian, she also had a dolphin friend. Breaker the dolphin's personality was then implanted into Ariel.

http://www.mouseplanet.com/6928/The_Little_Mermaid

 

Beauty and the Beast

Belle was supposed to have a cute little music box who didn't speak but had music. He was replaced by Chip. He does appear in the movie next to Lumiere before the villagers attack the castle.

http://fancysomedisneymagic.tumblr.com/post/3922625605/unused-disney-characters

Aladdin
Aladdin's mom was once in the movie and Aladdin had a song called "Proud of your boy", a song that Clay Aiken even sang at one point in time. She was removed from the movie and Aladdin was made an orphan. It returned in the Broadway show. Also, there was to be another genie, one in a ring that Jafar would use. Rumored voices were Jim Carey and Lily Tomlin, unknown if they were actually asked.
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Aladdin's_Mother
http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Genie_of_the_Ring

Before Jeffrey Katzenberg's "Black Friday," Aladdin had three human friends called Babkak, Omar, and Kassim. "One Step Ahead" was originally written by Howard Ashman and Alan Menken as "Babkak, Omar, Aladdin, Cassim" and was deleted. They came back in Broadway's Aladdin. Cassim's spelling was changed because Aladdin's dad was called Cassim in "Aladdin and the King of Thieves."

 

Lion King

There was Meethu ("Mee-Too"), Nala's brother had a desire to tag along with the two older cubs and their other friend, a bat-eared fox. After Scar’s coup, Nala would’ve been tasked with protecting her brother from Scar. The development of characters like Timon and Pumbaa rendered a second group of friends for Simba not needed.

http://thefw.com/more-deleted-disney-characters/?trackback=tsmclip

 

Pocahontas

Believe it or not, Pocahontas had another friend in a turkey. Redfeather the turkey was replaced by Meeko.

http://disney.wikia.com/wiki/Redfeather

 

Mulan

Mulan had two dragons named Yin and Yang instead of Mushu, then it was a dragon and a phoenix, eventually they were canned for Mushu.

http://www.curatormagazine.com/aaronbelz/the-maker-of-mulans-mushu-speaks/

 

Muppet's Treasure Island

Amazonia the Parrot was Black Beard's female friend. Apparently Black Beard's Parrot friend was too flirty and female, was changed to Stevenson (above) who appeared in a CD-ROM game and he was ditched for Polly the Lobster.

http://muppet.wikia.com/wiki/Amazonia_the_Parrot

 

Bambi

Bee was an insect that was taken out of Bambi, no reason given.

http://www.disneydreaming.com/2011/03/27/discarded-bambi-character-bee/

 

Not only the bee, but Thumper's dad was booted too. Mr. Hare is referenced in the movie but never seen but he was to be included, as he was in the original book. In one early draft of the script, he is constantly trying to tell Bambi a story, but keeps having to run off to avoid a fox before he can finish. He was to die as well. Thumper replaced him because of a cute child actor.

 http://thefw.com/lost-disney-characters/?trackback=tsmclip

 

 

Snow White
In the original Snow White story, the dwarfs all had generic names and no defined personalities. Disney gave them names, but there were some that were unused. Deafy, sometimes written as 'Deefy,' he was hard of hearing.  Story drawings of Deafy still exist, proving that he was a more serious contender for a role in the film than other suggested dwarfs like Thrifty, Burpy, Wheezy, Jumpy, Baldy and Awful (steals and drinks and is dirty). Sneezy did replace Deafy. In Once Upon a Time, an 8th Dwarf has been added named Stealthy. http://thefw.com/lost-disney-characters/?trackback=tsmclip

 

 Alice in Wonderland

Gryphon and Mock Turtle were in the books and they were planned characters for the movie but they were probably cut for time, which is funny because Alice in Wonderland is one of the shortest Disney animated features. Gryphon and Mock Turtle were actually used in a Black and White Jell-O commercial and it looks like they reused some cells from the planned canceled scene and some cells of Alice from the exact movie and just put new voiceovers for Jell-O.

http://thefw.com/lost-disney-characters/?trackback=tsmclip

 

 

The Rescuers

Among the ideas considered early on was a story where the mice rescue a bear trapped in the zoo. Very little has been written about this version of the film, so not much is known about Louis the bear. Louis Prima (King Louie from ‘The Jungle Book’) was slated to voice him. Walt Disney’s death in 1966 may have weakened enthusiasm for the bear in the zoo storyline and also that Louis Prima had a brain tumor.

 http://thefw.com/lost-disney-characters/?trackback=tsmclip



Interracial couples (African-Americans and Caucasians) in TV sitcoms (and some dramas)

 

Maybe this subject is moot these days but I don't see this much happening anymore these days in Sitcoms but in the 90's and 00's, occasionally a white character would be paired with a black character. Here I cover the rare main relationships and then the minor characters for just one episode. I will mostly cover African-American with White Americans. Because if you get nitpicky, you can call almost any couple interracial if Italian with British or Irish and Polish.

 

 Saved by the Bell

Lisa and Screech

Screech was madly in love with Lisa and the subject of her being black and him being white never came up. She mostly was disgusted with him and didn't return his advances. Even if she didn't feel the same way and they were never an official couple, it was refreshing they made no big deal about them being from different races. Occasionally she would show signs of liking him back but it didn't happen much.

 

Saved by the Bell

Zack and Lisa

In one episode where Lisa was a fashion designer, Zack and her worked together closely and fell for each other. They ended up kissing, breaking Screech's heart. Again race was not an issue. This relationship was not brought up again.

 

That 70's Show

Hyde and Melissa

Hyde is attracted to Donna's radio work buddy Melissa (Reagan Gomez-Preston---voice of Roberta on "Cleveland Show"). They don't kiss or date, it is alluded that it will continue but we never see her again. We later find that Hyde is half-black but he doesn't date a black girl after this.

 

Mr. Sunshine

 Alice and Alonzo

In the now canceled show "Mr. Sunshine," Alonzo (James Lesiure) and Alice (Andrea Anders) were a couple. James Lesiure is now on the TBS sitcom "Men at Work."

Parenthood

Crosby and Jasmine

Crosby (Dax Shepard) and Jasmine (Joy Bryant) had a kid together and then were engaged. They get married and have a second child.

 

True Colors

A Fox TV sitcom in the 90's was about a blended family with a black father and white wife, two sons from the father and daughter from the mother. Lasted two seasons from 1990 to 1992. People said it was a bad show but I was 8 when it came out and I liked it.

 

New Girl

Winston and Daisy

While Cece is Indian-American and has dated Schmidt who is Jewish and now seems to be paired with Coach who is African-American, I want to bring to light the rare pairing of Asian with Black. Daisy (Brenda Strong) was dating Winston only for a few eps and inadvertently broke up with him when he discovered she was seeing someone else. It was never mentioned about their different races even though the Schmidt character often mentioned him being Jewish and Cece being of Indian heritage.

 

Power Rangers Lightspeed Rescue

Joel and Angela Fairweather

In season 8 of Power Rangers in 2000, they had got in the habit of having new cast and story and Joel the Green Ranger was after the scientist Ms. Fairweather. She ignored him for the most part but ultimately he won her heart and they married. 

Angel

James Gunn and Winifred 'Fred' Bruckle

In the end of season 3 and beginning of Season 4, Fred and Gunn became a couple. Like most couples in the Buffy and Angel universe, the relationship ended tragically. Gunn ended up killing for Fred and she didn't like that. She ended up kissing Wes. They broke up and next year Fred died. Anyway, their races wasn't mention but there was clear cultural differences.

 Brooklyn Nine-Nine

Captain Ray Holt and Kevin Cozner

Ray Holt is a main character and we don't meet his husband until Episode 16. Holt's husband who dislikes the NYPD due to their treatment of Holt and his homosexuality during his earlier years on the force. He claims Holt is the 'funny' one in their relationship, while he is very stoic. Their races are quickly mentioned and what is emphasized is that Kevin is one of those pretentious smart gays.



Pop culture Uncles and Nephews

I have been an uncle since I was 5 and became a Great Uncle four years ago (I'm 31, my sister is 48 and a grandma). I am fascinated by uncles and nephews in the media, as many don't mention the mother or father of the nephew.

 Kermit and Robin

 Robin first appeared in Frog Prince in 1971 television special. Although Robin made a few appearances on The Muppet Show's first season, his relationship to Kermit was not established until Season 2. He was voiced by Jerry Nelson. He is now voiced by Matt Vogel. They were then translated into Muppet Babies, Robin was a tadpole.

 Scooby-Doo and Scrappy

Scooby-Doo was part of a ghost detective group of teenagers and he loved eating. Later on in the first series, his nephew was introduced. Scrappy was not a popular character but he was Scooby's nephew. Scrappy turned up in the live-action film as a villain.

Donald Duck and his nephews

Huey, Dewey and Louie were created by Ted Osborne and Al Taliaferro, and first appeared in a newspaper comic strip on October 17, 1937. They are identical triplets, they have also been given to Uncle Scrooge on DuckTales.

 Mickey Mouse and his nephews

His nephews aren't very well known but appear in a lot of merchandise and a few cartoons. Morty and Fredie Fieldmouse are their names. They started in Mickey's Nephews (published in 1932).

 Popeye and his nephews

Popeye's nephews Pipeye, Peepeye, Pupeye and Poopeye first starred in "Me Musical Nephews.” They are not as better known as other nephews in popular media.

 _______________________
Here are some Uncle and Nieces or Aunts and Nieces

 Inspector Gadget and Penny

Penny was the brains of the operation.

 

Minnie Mouse and her nieces

In the short Bowtoons, Minnie has twin nieces Millie and Melody.

  

Tenderheart and Wonderheart

In the current CGI series "Welcome to Care-A-Lot," the main bear Tenderheart now has a little niece known as Wonderheart.

Miss Piggy, Andy and Randy

Her nephews became more known in Muppets Tonight.

Jem 2012 Dolls at $135!

 Maybe I am a month late but here it is, what we have been waiting for. And wow! Awesome work! They are releasing three dolls but they are for $135. But they are fully poseable! These are soooo made for collectors, it is not even funny. 

 We got Jerrica, who can turn into Jem. I am surprise Pizzazz is not part of this group because they did release Halloween costumes of her.

 Rio is so hot! And they have him in show-accurate clothing, which is not available before. Even with mundane cream and brown colors, he still looks so handsome!

 Synergy has show-accurate clothes and looks fabulous! Who is synergy? She was the computer that made Jerrica into Jem!

At the SDCC 2012, this Hollywood Jem was revealed. Pre-orders are sold out!

Sources:

http://www.dollobserver.com/2012/10/05/jem-and-the-hollograms-wave-1-dolls-announced/

http://www.businessweek.com/articles/2012-10-24/jem-dolls-reboot-sells-out

http://www.rockjem.com/dolls4.html

Jem and the Holograms EXCLUSIVE Spirit Halloween Costumes

At Spirit Halloween stores online and in various malls has Jem and the Hologram costumes for ADULT WOMEN! Mad awesome! They have Jem, Pizzazz and Synergy. I hope more is to come! Where's Rio? I would sooo wear that!

http://halloween-costumes.spirithalloween.com/search#p=R&w=jem%2520and%2520the%2520h&url=http%3a%2f%2fhalloween-costumes.spirithalloween.com%2fsearch%3fw%3djem%2520and%2520the%2520holograms%26ts%3dajax&rk=1&uid=606389902&ts=rac&rt=racsug&asug=jem%20and%20the%20h?apelog=yes

Pink non-girl toys in Boy Franchises

Pink is usually considered a female color and I am not going into my whole debate over the color pink. But it should be noted that as late as the 1950's, it was still considered a "boy" color. Pink was seen as a shade of red, which relates to manly concepts like blood and war. Blue was associated with the Virgin Mary and was seen as a more serene color reserved for girls (in fact, the traditional colour for wedding dresses used to be blue before Queen Victoria popularized the white dress; all that remained of that is the line calling for "something blue" in the rhyme). Early in WWI, the French Army uniform included bright pink trousers. This was changed when the leaders realized it made them easy targets. Pink has become more of a girl color thanks to industrial merchandising and Barbie adopting the color. I wanted to highlight some characters in Boy Franchises that were NOT girls that wore pink.

 

 Hot Rod

He was introduced as Optimus Prime's replacement in the Transformers movie. Before final production, Hot Rod was originally cast in a pinker plastic to match the color of his animation model, but oddly, he was changed to a less animation-accurate red before release. This change evidently came too late to modify the factory-applied stickers the toy bears: the small decals on either side of Hot Rod's vehicle mode feature a pink background that would have matched the toy's original color scheme.

Skids and Mudflap

In the sequel Transformers: Revenge of the Fallen, these two 'male' Transformers became a pink and white Ice Cream Truck. They later changed their form.

Fangry and other Decepticons
G1 Decepticons were pink such as Fangry, Spinster and Carnivac.

 

Hot Wheels and Monster Jam

There has been many many pink Hot Wheels through the years and only one pictured above is a Barbie car. Another is a Batmobile. Four are Monster Jam trucks: Madusa, Eradicator, Scarlet Bandit, and Heart Breaker.

Bret Hart

The most famous wrestler in Pink Spandex, he said he picked the color to intimidate his competitors.

Gambit
The X-Men superhero had pink torso and accents and his kinetic energy was pink.

 Nimrod

 Speaking of Marvel and X-Men, Nimrod was an all-pink deadly villain.

Kamen Rider Decade

Kamen Rider is also known as Masked Rider. For the 10th anniversary of the revival in 2009, they made a 'magenta' rider. Fans refused to agree he was pink. Most of the Riders of the decade were Red and most of the first ones were green. He and Kamen Rider Raia are the only 'pink' ones.