tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post2000820059353331863..comments2023-12-29T13:22:41.098-08:00Comments on Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol: The 50th Anniversary Airing of Mr. Magoo’s Christmas Carol on NBCDarrellhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/02872914483836891531noreply@blogger.comBlogger42125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-46824837559428449142013-02-21T00:30:39.669-08:002013-02-21T00:30:39.669-08:00NBC deserves to be haunted by all four of those gh...NBC deserves to be haunted by all four of those ghosts in the Charles Dickens story (Jacob Marley too.) SHort sighted themselves (I am,too, but not the way those networks are.) I'm glad therefore that I didn't see this repeat. I' ve seen it intact many times before (Of course what Art Clokey did to the soundtracks for my owner Gumby's shows was as bad)..:()<br /><br />"Dang networks, you've done it again!.S.CarrasPokeyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15936757752447320636noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-58933442457938988342013-01-22T09:41:35.981-08:002013-01-22T09:41:35.981-08:00Actually, it's not restored, just remastered. ...Actually, it's not restored, just remastered. Restoring it would have required much more attention to detail, like color timing the scenes so that all scenes within a sequence matched in color temperature. As it stands now, the color temps are all over the map, both within sequences and throughout the film. Scrooge's jacket changes from sequence to sequence, for example. Also, the transfer is compressed for broadcast which also changes the way the color reads. <br /><br />As it's now quite evident, the best bet is the DVD, even with its flaws.Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872914483836891531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-41451940926456772712013-01-20T19:11:24.756-08:002013-01-20T19:11:24.756-08:00Yes to all that - but hey, it got publicized, and ...Yes to all that - but hey, it got publicized, and it's on Netflix in its original form.<br /><br />Perhaps someone at NBC really wanted to do this, and he left NBC with the obligation, and they did what they wanted.<br /><br />What the hell was with the awful color change? They may call it "restored," but I call that "reupholstered!"Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-78881517874296683592013-01-16T07:18:17.503-08:002013-01-16T07:18:17.503-08:001/16/12
RobGems.ca wrote:
First of all, it's r...1/16/12<br />RobGems.ca wrote:<br />First of all, it's really surprising that NBC would bring back the oh-so-nearsighted Magoo character back to their stations. Over the years, NBC has become one of the most over-the-top politically correct TV stations with personalities like Chris Matthews & Rachel Maddow cluttering up the roster with their left-wing opinions & news stories. A character like Mr. Magoo would seem outdated to these pundits, due to him making fun of the nearsighted and the nearly-blind. I'm farsighted myself, and had to wear glasses for 26 out of my 44 years, and I still find Mr. Magoo a funny character,with no offenses at all. When John Hubley originally co-created Mr. Magoo with some other UPA artists back in 1949, he meant Mr. Magoo to be, in his own words "bullheaded, stubborn, and downright nasty sometimes",just like a real old fuddy duddy. UPA director Pete Burness softened up Magoo around 1952,much to Hubley's chagrin at the behest of UPA producer Steve Boustow,and thus, made him more family friendly,which also helped the UPA studios gain a couple of Acadamey Award winners (starting in 1953, with "When Magoo Flew").Hubley wasn't pleased with the new improved Magoo character, and soon left UPA studios to form his own studioi with his wife Faith Hubley. By the time Magoo reached the NBC network in 1962, Bostouw sold the rights of UPA to Henry G. Saspertien,and the TV airings started to begin in 1960, but with less quality than the theatrical UPA releases. "Mr. Magoo's Christmas Carol" wasconsidered an improvement over the weak 1960 TV cartoons, and did well tremendously,leading NBC to give Saspertien the rights to commission a new prime time Magoo series in late 1963 (it debuted in September 1964 on prime time as "The New Adventures Of Mr.Magoo.)Flash foward nearly 40 years later when Mr. Magoo was to be commissioned for an awful live-action movie. Jim Backus was already deceased, so the late Leslie Neilsen was inducted to fill the part. It wasn't a good movie as a result, and the most annoying moment of all is at the very end of the closing credits, when the soon-to emerge Politically Correct left-wing version of Hollywood had to issue a disclaimer at the outset "apologizing" to all of the blind & nearsighted people of the world that Mr. Magoo offended these people. Mr. Magoo's days as a TV rerun figure were numbered as a result of that disasterous campaign,and wouldn't be seen on TV or in the theatre until this botched-up rerun to comemorate the 50oth anniversary of the 1962 showing of "Mr.Magoo's Christmas Carol." Of course NBC would botch it up, because the PC executives(like Jeffery Immelt)don't like and are deeply offended by Mr.Magoo simply because of his nearsightedness. They think he is all that is wrong with politically incorrect jokes towards the blind and the nearsighted, and were more than delighted to butcher up the TV special for their dumb commercial breaks. After all, the 1962 had only two commercial breaks in its showing (sponsored by Timex Watches),while this rerun had about five!If John Hubley saw this today,he would've wanted to crawl back into the grave where he was buried, because he's be so ashamed to what TV and movie executives did to his character. After all, he once stated that Magoo was based on a cross between a stubborn uncle of his (and Jim Backus's businessman of a father)and did not let the practice of not wering glasses top make his eyesight and mindset an improvement of his goodwill;instead Magoo would still be a stubborn old coot if he did decide to wear glasses. This is something that the PC's miss entirely; Magoo is still a bullheaded fool with or without perfect vision, as he stubbornly gets into one mishap after another because he just won't listen to other people's suggestions, Or take other people's good advices.Or as Hubley would've put it, he'll always be a stubborn, narrow, bull-headed old coot!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-47747663466855165252013-01-10T08:56:57.214-08:002013-01-10T08:56:57.214-08:00As someone living on the OTHER side of the Atlanti...As someone living on the OTHER side of the Atlantic who LOVES this film (and has done so since it was first televised in the UK) I was appalled and saddened to hear of its recent defilement. <br /><br />NBC don't deserve to have access to this classic and if there was any justice in the world the God of TV would take it away from them and put a jink on all their advertising deals for the next 365 days!Brian Sibleyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02395103557170474777noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-9090363795550751162013-01-01T19:41:07.942-08:002013-01-01T19:41:07.942-08:00I have to agree with everyone else -- I was appall...I have to agree with everyone else -- I was appalled by the clumsy hack job done on this superb animated special. I have loved MMCC since first watching it as a child, and it still makes me tear up. I bought the DVD years ago when it was first released and watch it faithfully every year, but was looking forward to the captioned version on NBC (the DVD has no closed-captioning, and much of the dialogue and lyrics are difficult for me to make out).<br /><br />Since most of the songs were either edited or deleted altogether, I was doubly frustrated. Why didn't NBC just make a 90-minute special out of this and promote their own historic involvement with the first animated broadcast Christmas special? It baffles the mind...Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-32281708598667760872012-12-28T22:02:34.840-08:002012-12-28T22:02:34.840-08:00Yes, dreadful - but typical of NBC. This year has ...Yes, dreadful - but typical of NBC. This year has been a parade of gaffes. (Olympics?)<br /><br />Glad to be in this company. Thank you for your tenacity and loving devotion to the original. Like many of you, I was in front of the TV for the debut in '62, and shivered through it every year possible, thereafter.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-86994740887944456002012-12-28T19:40:45.316-08:002012-12-28T19:40:45.316-08:00Call me crazy but don't I recall the whole sho...Call me crazy but don't I recall the whole show being a self contained package sponsored by GE (General Electric) ? I swear I recall Magoo saying "Oh GE, you've done it again" in one of the purpose made commercials.<br /><br />Ditto for Rudolph The Red Nosed Reindeer, I'd swear there was an internal ad, maybe at the end where they zoom in very tight on Rudolph's nose and it's actually a red GE lightbulb with the squiggly GE logo. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-16262178215383503622012-12-28T13:06:37.890-08:002012-12-28T13:06:37.890-08:00Actually, the 21 Club but yes, how far it's fa...Actually, the 21 Club but yes, how far it's fallen.Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872914483836891531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-61544785249222805542012-12-28T13:04:51.238-08:002012-12-28T13:04:51.238-08:00I was appalled at the editing of the credits and t...I was appalled at the editing of the credits and the first five minutes and so couldn't bring myself to watch the whole broadcast. How sad to think when it first aired they had a huge viewing party at Sardi's (?) with TVs brought in especially for it. No respect.<br /><br />I immediately went to Amazon Prime on my Roku box and watched the whole, unedited masterpiece for free. Nickelpichttps://www.blogger.com/profile/15455125066491909824noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-90696397798224105932012-12-27T11:06:41.789-08:002012-12-27T11:06:41.789-08:00It really ruined the whole story the way NBC cut i...It really ruined the whole story the way NBC cut it up. It was not as I remembered it at all. It's such a shame that NBC did not give it the treatment it deserved. Too greedy for commercial time. I agree with some of the other posts: show it unedited or not at all! How could you guys cut out the finale and just end it abruptly? Terrible, just terrible.<br />Such a classic. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-55308899004733747992012-12-26T22:56:39.571-08:002012-12-26T22:56:39.571-08:00I also saw the 1962 broadcast at age 5. Some of t...I also saw the 1962 broadcast at age 5. Some of the scenes were pretty intense, like Christmas Future making Magoo look at his grave. But the framing of the story as a perfomance on Broadway made it a lot less scary to me. It even seems that the orignal even pulled the camera back at the end of each act to show that the action was happening on a stage, and you could the backs of the seated audience. But when NBC abruptly switched to a commercial in the middle of song, my first thought was that someone in the NBC control room hit the wrong button... <br /><br />By the way Darrell, you seem confused that the word "broadcast" refers only to a NETWORK broadcast. Any show is "broadcast" even if it's syndicated or even shown on ONE station. But this was the first NETWORK broadcast in 45 years, and as such NBC could have shown some class and given it the promotion it deserved. In a 90 minute slot, they could have shown the entire unedited film, some background information AND have room for even MORE commericals. Frank Provaseknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-44249846634111141672012-12-26T08:44:59.310-08:002012-12-26T08:44:59.310-08:00Be my guest!Be my guest!Darrellhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/02872914483836891531noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-44989454203126872312012-12-26T07:24:07.351-08:002012-12-26T07:24:07.351-08:00Darrell -- If I could have your permission, I woul...Darrell -- If I could have your permission, I would like to print out this blog entry and the thread of comments, and send it to NBC. If it is okay with everybody.<br /><br />The Lord's bright blessing to all!<br /><br />Paul Fitzpatrickhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08204020430659799638noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-53362026144803966292012-12-26T06:57:01.457-08:002012-12-26T06:57:01.457-08:00What a hack job!.. I emailed NBC and told them suc...What a hack job!.. I emailed NBC and told them such, and advised if they can't be bothered to show something correctly, don't even bother in the future.. they ruined it for anyone new watching it! This is what has earned them the Nothing But Crap description!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-87985958308805577552012-12-24T12:14:28.910-08:002012-12-24T12:14:28.910-08:00Darrell said...
"That may have been syndicati...Darrell said...<br /><i>"That may have been syndication rather than broadcast."</i><br /><br />The cable network USA Network use to air this in the 1980's (of course that was outside broadcast TV itself).<br /><br />Anthony D. said...<br /><i>"Even more so, it was the 50th anniversary of the first animated Christmas special. I would've shown the special in it's 52 minute form with 8-7 1/2 minutes of commercials"</i><br /><br />That would've seem reasonable to me, even if the spots had to be like 15 seconds each just to get by. You'd think limiting the ad time would've driven up the competition a little for those spots to be that exclusive like the Super Bowl but I guess not. A better idea would've been to add on anther half hour and did an extensive intro that told of the special's importance and the people who made it possible, perhaps get Darrell himself to interview if need be (he deserves it). There was no excuse.<br /><br />Of course I recall Darrell didn't want us to feel angry over it before it aired, yet we did talk extensively over not trusting NBC on this matter and it showed in the outcome. I feel sorry for the editors there that had to make the decision to cut it where they did (whether they had seen the special or not I don't know, they seem like they never had).<br /><br />Dale said...<br /><i>"I'm appalled but the editing job is about what I was expecting given the current mentality of network television.</i><br /><br />I've known this for about a decade already myself (going back to the days when ABC use to edit some of the Peanuts specials they had on at first).<br /><br />Anonymous said...<br /><i>"NBC cut out 13 minutes out of the 53 minute run time. They turned a classic into a chopped up mess."</i><br /><br />Wow, 40 minutes! That's a new low (I suppose a half-hour program runs at 18-20 minutes nowadays).<br /><br /><i>"The idea of offering a 50th anniversary showing of a real classic and cut it to pieces what horrific. Why bother even showing it?"</i><br /><br />You can't begin to know how many times I've said this myself.<br /><br />8traxrule said...<br /><i>"I stopped watching a LONG time ago just because of that, what have they GAINED from it???</i><br /><br />Absolutely nothing. Shame they could've used that night to redeem everything but simply chose to stay on the safe side like usual.Chris Sobieniakhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09838106041175506925noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-74425100163108115752012-12-24T10:46:35.035-08:002012-12-24T10:46:35.035-08:00NBC was also the first of the 'big 3' netw...NBC was also the first of the 'big 3' networks to keep their logo onscreen all the time! They've been doing that for 16 years now and it's disgusting they haven't gotten more complaints about it! I stopped watching a LONG time ago just because of that, what have they GAINED from it???8traxrulehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/04806438280120550963noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-11906336541867155762012-12-23T23:57:23.596-08:002012-12-23T23:57:23.596-08:00What a sad commentary on our society. My family an...What a sad commentary on our society. My family and I love Magoo's Christmas Carol.My daughter knows all the lyrics and sings them every season Thanks for your book , loved it.It answered soooo many questions. Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-59509955652690563642012-12-23T20:40:57.753-08:002012-12-23T20:40:57.753-08:00Dear Darrell,
I too was horrified by last night&#...Dear Darrell,<br /><br />I too was horrified by last night's broadcast. And I have a question that I am hoping that you or anyone else who watched the show last night on WNBC here in New York can answer.<br /><br />I tuned into the program just before it began (at 7:59 pm) and just before the NBC promo for their show "The Biggest Loser" I caught what looked like the mentioning of one of the car companies sponsoring the Magoo special.<br /><br />*Is that true? Did one of the car companies officially sponsor the show last night?<br /><br />*If so, which car company was it?<br /><br />*And lastly, before the show did NBC mention anything about it being the 50th anniversary of the show?<br /><br />Anything anybody can offer would be greatly appreciated! Thanks loads advance!Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-35649842133026297382012-12-23T18:33:45.165-08:002012-12-23T18:33:45.165-08:00NBC cut out 13 minutes out of the 53 minute run ti...NBC cut out 13 minutes out of the 53 minute run time. They turned a classic into a chopped up mess.<br /><br />The idea of offering a 50th anniversary showing of a real classic and cut it to pieces what horrific. Why bother even showing it?<br /><br />Fortunately, one can go to YouTube, buy the DVD or wait for it to pop up on cable. So, unlike 1962, there are other options.<br /><br />What was even worse about this si that virtually every song was cut. But, the to fully cut the reprise of "The Lord's Bright blessing". Shameful.Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-62710707890084820792012-12-23T17:37:14.652-08:002012-12-23T17:37:14.652-08:00Tragic...appalling...pathetic.
My entire family a...Tragic...appalling...pathetic.<br /><br />My entire family and I have loved MMCC since seeing it that night way back in '62. Last night, I was on the phone doing a running commentary with one of my sisters while we both watched on our respective TVs. OUTRAGE doesn't begin to describe our reaction.<br /><br />As I wrote to Darrell, last night's travesty probably struck a serious blow to the prospect of attracting a new, younger, "uninitiated" audience for Magoo's Carol. Considering the sense of anticipation created by all of the advance PR (especially the excellent NY Times article), I can't imagine anyone who is unfamiliar with MMCC being impressed. It came across as piecemeal, incoherent drivel, when those of us who know and love it realize it is one of the most magnificent and moving entertainments ever created.<br /><br />So I guess our job as advocates has become a bit more difficult.Larry Rapchaknoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-76635681679002244572012-12-23T15:50:09.394-08:002012-12-23T15:50:09.394-08:00I watched the special and was not the least bit su...I watched the special and was not the least bit surprised at the hacked up editing job. Network television no longer cares about quality. In fact, as much as I love Magoo's Christmas Carol, this presentation put me to sleep about half way through. I recorded it on DVD to review the way they edited the songs and story. I'm appalled but the editing job is about what I was expecting given the current mentality of network television.Dalehttps://www.blogger.com/profile/13900470936696536392noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-23678091121693322432012-12-23T11:25:26.897-08:002012-12-23T11:25:26.897-08:00The showing on Netflix also included a cartoon of ...The showing on Netflix also included a cartoon of Mr. Magoo as Rip Van Winkle. What a treatbradactorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00041484636491782321noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-16254537795988329492012-12-23T11:19:35.027-08:002012-12-23T11:19:35.027-08:00My wife and I were both upset that we missed Satur...My wife and I were both upset that we missed Saturday's broadcast. After reading all the comments, we're now glad we didn't see it. It's a shame how the networks hold no regard for the classics anymore. As for all the commercials, no one should be surprised - after all, NBC actually stands for "Nothing But Commercials".Anonymousnoreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-2202740811135382485.post-5922455197482210362012-12-23T10:25:15.735-08:002012-12-23T10:25:15.735-08:00I just checked on Netflix and it runs about an hou...I just checked on Netflix and it runs about an hour and sixteen minutes, not sure of the dvd I have. I thought it was shorter than this. I guess it depends on how they cut it. Netflix doesn't run commercials. bradactorhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/00041484636491782321noreply@blogger.com