The Miscellaneous Thought Thread

[TP2000]

Who says Will Smith isn't Disneyland related?



Also, I'm a bit surprised a Disneyland forum has been discussing Will for days and this hasn't been brought up.

And here I thought I'd seen it all when it came to Disneyland. But I have never seen this before.

What on earth was that?!? Also, there's something eternally awkward about background crowd performers in any Disneyland video since time immemorial. But I think this has to be the most awkward and oddly unnerving background crowd performance I've ever seen.

And what year was that? Maybe 1993? Amazing that was 30 years ago now!

 

[mickEblu]

Fascinating! Good for Mr. Packer for addressing the behind-the-scenes questions many of us have.

I continue to be impressed with how Chris Rock has taken the high road here. He deserves all the accolades and positive reactions he is receiving from this incident Will Smith created for himself and others.
Bravo, Chris Rock!

Yeah it’s the high road but is Will going to do anything to make Chris not regret taking the high road? All he got so far is some 1/2 @$$ apology a day later. I’m not sure if that would be enough for me considering I got slapped in front of the whole world. I mean I guess it’s why it’s called the high road but…

An apology like that works for something that happened in private or maybe amongst a small group of family/ friends. It just isn’t enough in this situation.

If I were Chris I’d be probably be inclined to take the high road initially as well. But after a few days of it festering I don’t think a verbal apology would be enough for me. Being that I didn’t hit you back in the moment that would leave any physical retaliation off the table as I couldn’t/ wouldn’t do it cold. What does that leave other than hurting Will in the pocket book? Sure he can make jokes until the end of time in front of his fans at his shows but that’s doesn’t quite make it even either.

 

[TP2000]

Yeah it’s the high road but is Will going to do anything to make Chris not regret taking the high road? All he got so far is some 1/2 @$$ apology a day later. I’m not sure if that would be enough for me considering I got slapped in front of the whole world. I mean I guess it’s why it’s called the high road but…

An apology like that works for something that happened in private or maybe amongst a small group of family/ friends. It just isn’t enough in this situation.

If I were Chris I’d be probably be inclined to take the high road initially as well. But after a few days of it festering I don’t think a verbal apology would be enough for me. Being that I didn’t hit you back in the moment that would leave any physical retaliation off the table as I couldn’t/ wouldn’t do it cold. What does that leave other than hurting Will in the pocket book? Sure he can make jokes until the end of time in front of his fans at his shows but that’s doesn’t quite make it even either.

All true. This is a complete mess. And it's a mess entirely of Will Smith's making.

But let's not forget, Chris Rock isn't a busboy or a barber who was physically assaulted by a very wealthy and extremely privileged member of the Hollywood elite (AKA, Will Smith), and thus a busboy or barber couldn't do much about it. Chris Rock is a famous comedian and star in his own right. Chris Rock has lawyers working overtime on this right now, and the Academy has lawyers working overtime on this as well. And Will Smith knows it, which is why he and his wife are both laying low and staying quiet right now.

 

[mickEblu]

All true. This is a complete mess. And it's a mess entirely of Will Smith's making.

But let's not forget, Chris Rock isn't a busboy or a barber who was physically assaulted by a very wealthy and privileged Hollywood elite, and thus a busboy or barber couldn't do much about it. Chris Rock is a famous comedian and star in his own right. Chris Rock has lawyers working overtime on this right now, and the Academy has lawyers working overtime on this as well. And Will Smith knows it, which is why he and his wife are both laying low and staying quiet right now.

Yeah I think Chris has to do something and jokes at his comedy shows are not going to cut it. I think the feeling he got from taking the Gandhi approach probably wore off after 24 hours as he keeps seeing himself get smacked in front of the world.

 

[TP2000]

Yeah I think Chris has to do something and jokes at his comedy shows are not going to cut it. I think the feeling he got from taking Gandhi approach probably wore off after 24 hours as he keeps seeing himself get smacked in front of the world.

There is definitely a hit to the ego for Chris Rock. I can only hope that the sharp rise his career has taken this week with ticket prices and now months of sold-out gigs brings him some joy and good will. I'd love to buy him a glass of the best whiskey the bar has, but I know he's getting that treatment from those around him.

But yeah, no man wants to see himself get sucker punched (or slapped) endlessly on a loop. And then Chris Rock just had to stand there on national TV and acknowledge that Will Smith just slapped him, then Will Smith had a small emotional episode of pure profane rage from his front row VIP seat while his wife laughed. Then, to make it worse, Will Smith won Best Actor and received a standing ovation from all the Official Good People in the Dolby Theatre that are constantly happy to remind you and I that they are our moral superiors. Hollywood!

This has to be one of the most fascinating episodes of American Pop Culture that I've ever watched play out. It's truly awful and disgusting, and yet like any bad car accident you can't help but look.

 

[Sailor310]

A friend at DL tonight sent me pictures of fireworks. On a Thursday!?? Looked it up and it's Mickey's Mix Magic with Fireworks. It looks like it's running every night of the week. What's up? Is this considered Spring Break already?

 

[TP2000]

A friend at DL tonight sent me pictures of fireworks. On a Thursday! Looked it up and it's Mickey's Mix Magic with Fireworks. It looks like it's running every night of the week. What's up? Is this considered Spring Break already?

They've been doing fireworks nightly for some time now. I think "Spring Break" lasts for about six weeks now.

In my day, it was just the week before Easter. And then the Catholic kids celebrated it the week after Easter.

I'm going out to Palm Springs (metro area) for my Easter Vacation, but Disneyland has been in fireworks mode since about the middle of March. Regardless of where your Spring Break or Easter Vacation finds you, or when you celebrate it, have some fun! (Not Suitable For Children)...

 

[mickEblu]

There is definitely a hit to the ego for Chris Rock. I can only hope that the sharp rise his career has taken this week with ticket prices and now months of sold-out gigs brings him some joy and good will. I'd love to buy him a glass of the best whiskey the bar has, but I know he's getting that treatment from those around him.

But yeah, no man wants to see himself get sucker punched (or slapped) endlessly on a loop. And then Chris Rock just had to stand there on national TV and acknowledge that Will Smith just slapped him, then Will Smith had a small emotional episode of pure profane rage from his front row VIP seat while his wife laughed. Then, to make it worse, Will Smith won Best Actor and received a standing ovation from all the Official Good People in the Dolby Theatre that are constantly happy to remind you and I that they are our moral superiors. Hollywood!

This has to be one of the most fascinating episodes of American Pop Culture that I've ever watched play out. It's truly awful and disgusting, and yet like any bad car accident you can't help but look.

The dynamics are really fascinating and only because they are both the same race and in the same caliber of stardom. If this was White/ Black their wouldn’t be a ton of discussion. At least not open and honest discussion. It would immediately have become a race thing and the Slapper would have been escorted out.

You have 3/4 of Hollywood and people with 6 degrees of separation from Hollywood scared to say something negative about Will. If Chris Rock was a B list celebrity he may have never worked again judging by the reactions or non reactions.

 

[TP2000]

You have 3/4 of Hollywood and people with 6 degrees of separation from Hollywood scared to say something negative about Will. If Chris Rock was a B list celebrity he may have never worked again judging by the reactions or non reactions.

A week ago I didn't have much emotional attachment to either the slapper or his victim. I'd heard of both of them, but didn't know much about their recent work in the last few years. It's just not my scene.

I thought of Will Smith as that guy who was on that funny sitcom and was the star of Independence Day in the 1990's, and Chris Rock was that comedian I must have seen on Saturday Night Live at some point because he looked familiar.

But the movie Will Smith was nominated for an Oscar for, King Richard, was very typical of all the recent Oscar nominations. That is, hardly anyone saw it and it was a financial disaster for the studio that released it. King Richard had a budget of $50 Million, but has only made $38 Million at the box office. Yikes!

That's not a business model that Hollywood can continue for much longer. Especially if the stars of those giant money-losing bombs start storming on stage at the Oscars and physically assault the Oscar hosts or hostesses presenting the show.

Oscars 2022: The Best Picture Nominees, Ranked By Box Office Mojo

The top Oscar prize of the night is Best Picture and the films up for the award had varying success at the global box office.

screenrant.com

 

[Sailor310]

They've been doing fireworks nightly for some time now. I think "Spring Break" lasts for about six weeks now.

In my day, it was just the week before Easter. And then the Catholic kids celebrated it the week after Easter.

I'm going out to Palm Springs (metro area) for my Easter Vacation, but Disneyland has been in fireworks mode since about the middle of March. Regardless of where your Spring Break or Easter Vacation finds you, or when you celebrate it, have some fun! (Not Suitable For Children)...

Thanks. I've been reading all about things starting April 22nd. Not a word, that I saw, about fireworks starting in March. DL does such a good job of making good things secret.

 

[TP2000]

Thanks. I've been reading all about things starting April 22nd. Not a word, that I saw, about fireworks starting in March. DL does such a good job of making good things secret.

It's almost like they've never done this before. Oh, wait, they've been in business since 1955.

I only know they've been doing nightly fireworks lately because they show up on the horizon outside all of my west facing windows every night at the stroke of 9 o'clock.

 

[SuddenStorm]

And here I thought I'd seen it all when it came to Disneyland. But I have never seen this before.

What on earth was that?!? Also, there's something eternally awkward about background crowd performers in any Disneyland video since time immemorial. But I think this has to be the most awkward and oddly unnerving background crowd performance I've ever seen.

And what year was that? Maybe 1993? Amazing that was 30 years ago now!

Close, 1990! For the 35 Disneyland TV Special. Honestly, the whole thing is delightfully kitschy. It's the sort of TV special that I would love to see Disneyland attempt again.

 

[D.Silentu]

Happy April Fools Day everyone! Today I can’t help but reflect on these past two years where most of the topics of change coming to the park read more like pranks than facts. I tend to expect a wild rumor to appear on this day, but I’ve come to realize that I don’t think I would doubt any announcement now, no matter how outrageous!

 

[Sir_Cliff]

Yeah I think Chris has to do something and jokes at his comedy shows are not going to cut it. I think the feeling he got from taking the Gandhi approach probably wore off after 24 hours as he keeps seeing himself get smacked in front of the world.

I don't think he has much to gain from going after Will Smith in court. If he wants to keep working as a successful comedian, I think it's better for him to do exactly what he's doing: take time to think about how to thoughtfully respond to the incident through his comedy.

There are already more divided opinions than you might imagine on what happened and race does play into it, so being the guy who looks like he's trying to destroy Will Smith's career on the basis of this incident is going to turn some people actively against him. As it is, whatever their opinion on the joke, I think at least most people agree that Chris Rock did not deserve to be hit and that he responded with remarkable composure in the moment. So, he comes out of this as the bigger man with likely few thinking less of him and a lot of people thinking more of him. In that context, I think it's better to seek compensation through higher ticket sales, more viewers for his comedy specials, etc.

Curious to see what happens to Will Smith's career. I certainly don't think this will destroy it by any means, but it probably will change public perceptions of him. Beyond the violence, he has become such a symbol for hubris and impunity for thinking he could get away with this, being shown getting away with it on live television, and then going out partying afterwards. I suspect we'll see a long, tearful interview with someone like Oprah by the end of the year in which he discusses his childhood and Jada her alopecia as the first big step in rebuilding what I think was a genuinely positive public reputation for Will Smith.

Wouldn't surprise me to see Will Smith become a bit of a Tom Cruise in the sense that a lot of people think he's a bit crazy and don't go to films because he rubs them the wrong way, but that doesn't stop him being a big box office draw in the right film.

 

[truecoat]

A week ago I didn't have much emotional attachment to either the slapper or his victim. I'd heard of both of them, but didn't know much about their recent work in the last few years. It's just not my scene.

I thought of Will Smith as that guy who was on that funny sitcom and was the star of Independence Day in the 1990's, and Chris Rock was that comedian I must have seen on Saturday Night Live at some point because he looked familiar.

But the movie Will Smith was nominated for an Oscar for, King Richard, was very typical of all the recent Oscar nominations. That is, hardly anyone saw it and it was a financial disaster for the studio that released it. King Richard had a budget of $50 Million, but has only made $38 Million at the box office. Yikes!

That's not a business model that Hollywood can continue for much longer. Especially if the stars of those giant money-losing bombs start storming on stage at the Oscars and physically assault the Oscar hosts or hostesses presenting the show.

Oscars 2022: The Best Picture Nominees, Ranked By Box Office Mojo

The top Oscar prize of the night is Best Picture and the films up for the award had varying success at the global box office.

screenrant.com

There's a new podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade from SNL and they talk to former hosts and cast members etc. Chris Rock was their first guest on the show 8 or 9 weeks ago and they addressed what happened this week on the Oscars before interviewing Ben Stiller.

 

[Sir_Cliff]

There's a new podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade from SNL and they talk to former hosts and cast members etc. Chris Rock was their first guest on the show 8 or 9 weeks ago and they addressed what happened this week on the Oscars before interviewing Ben Stiller.

That is a good podcast! To be honest, the first I had thought about Chris Rock in a long time was listening to their first episode whenever it came out.

 

[TP2000]

I don't think he has much to gain from going after Will Smith in court. If he wants to keep working as a successful comedian, I think it's better for him to do exactly what he's doing: take time to think about how to thoughtfully respond to the incident through his comedy.

Agreed. Especially now that he has had time to process it and seen how the public is reponding to him specifically (overwhelmingly positive). But it's also telling what his response was in the few seconds and next 120 minutes after it happened; that's what tells me Chris Rock is the true professional and sharp person here.

There are already more divided opinions than you might imagine on what happened and race does play into it, so being the guy who looks like he's trying to destroy Will Smith's career on the basis of this incident is going to turn some people actively against him.

That's the part that baffles me. Everyone involved here was all one race; the assaulter, the victim of the assault, the person with the shaved head who was the topic of the hairdo joke, even the Producer and executive leader of the telecast who was immediately responsible for the first 45 minutes of response and outcome to the assault. They were all the same race, and even all had known each other for years.

It would seem to me that race has nothing to do with it. But then everything is so often coded and triple-secret coded now, it's impossible to keep up with whatever you are supposed to be offended about. So I just have to give up on that angle, as I can't figure out how race had anything to do with it.

I suspect we'll see a long, tearful interview with someone like Oprah by the end of the year in which he discusses his childhood and Jada her alopecia as the first big step in rebuilding what I think was a genuinely positive public reputation for Will Smith.

You are right! I bet that's exactly what we'll see. On a sun-dappled terrace at the tasteful and elegant Smith Family estate. Cue tears! Cue nodding, knowing looks from Oprah! So powerful and insightful!

About my only takeaways from this whole thing is that I now think Will Smith is a complete nutjob, and in my social circle the bald guys have already started calling themselves "Alopecia Sufferers" instead of just bald.

 

[TP2000]

There's a new podcast with Dana Carvey and David Spade from SNL and they talk to former hosts and cast members etc. Chris Rock was their first guest on the show 8 or 9 weeks ago and they addressed what happened this week on the Oscars before interviewing Ben Stiller.

Thank you! I'll have to listen to that today.

I'm just thrilled that my old memory banks still work, and that my hunch that I'd seen Chris Rock on SNL at some point was accurate.

 

[mickEblu]

Wow not only are they raising prices on everything but they re really skimping on us. I had my first bowl of cereal in a while late last night and let me tell you that I have never had milk that was so watered down. I buy the organic Horizon brand (full fat) and in the past it’s always had a much creamier taste and texture.

 

[lazyboy97o]

Beyond the violence, he has become such a symbol for hubris and impunity for thinking he could get away with this, being shown getting away with it on live television, and then going out partying afterwards.

Again, I sincerely ask, would you be describing a professional hockey player in these terms? I’m aware that different events have a different decorum, but if a slap is so intolerable then throwing punches on live television and even partying afterwards should also carry some reprehensibility, right?