colonial

My 12-year-old has been asking me to take her to an anime movie off and on for the last year. She knows my late wife's parents won't take her to one this summer when she visits them (Grandma still thinks she likes "Paw Patrol." However, my daughter is fine with most Disney, DreamWorks, etc. fare.) My parents don't understand any of it, and the local theater -- the one that likes to screen the latest films from Steven Seagal and Dolph Lundgren -- doesn't know what anime is. So when "Spy x Family Code: White" premiered at a neighboring town's theater this weekend, I opted to take her. She knew the anime and the film was PG-13. The theater is an AMC in a decrepit mall (has a Belk, Books-A-Million, Bath and Body Works and a bunch of flea markets. There's also two day care centers). Bought the tickets in the "Screen 1-6 Zone," then walked across the hall as the film was on Screen 11. If you want snacks, you go back to 1-6 (we didn't snack). We went to the theater once before, pre-COVID, to see "Arctic Dogs." My daughter has since apologized profusely for asking to see this film, which was an atomic turd. Honestly, I enjoyed it. It helped that my daughter went through all the basics with me about the characters, then the narrator repeated everything she said on screen (we saw the dubbed version -- my daughter said she "can't handle subtitles yet.") There was a little bit of everything -- action, silly family fare, "Fisher-Price film noir", etc., and there was enough going on to keep the audience interesting. My daughter loved it and couldn't stop talking about it, particularly the action scenes. One of the coming attractions was another Crunchyroll film called "Haikyuu!! The Dumpster Battle," which is set to premiere May 31. I never heard an audience laugh loudly at a film's title in my life.

Akebono was getting a lot of attention in some U.S. media outlets as early as 1992 when he was closing in on his promotion. I swear I recall the Washington Post interviewing his family in Hawaii. And outlets like SportsCenter and George Michael Sports Machine would mention sumo from time to time on its telecasts. As far as Yokozuna the wrestler, his Wiki mentioned that when Samu and Fatu had their first WWE TV match as "The Samoans" in 1992, Gorilla Monsoon mentioned that a "much larger Samoan" would be joining them soon, so it sounds like there was a thought of Yoko working as Kokina Maximus (or something similar) when he debuted. Found the French-language version of said match (Samu/Fatu vs. Jim Brunzell/Phil Apollo), but I'm not sure if the match ever aired for U.S. viewers.

I believe Osprey mentioned after leaving New Japan FT was that he would be open to working from time to time with NJ depending on his schedule. I read that as he wouldn't work full tours or tournaments, but could work, say, the January 4 show or something like Dominion.

Watched part of the first night. Had to turn it off halfway through as my daughter and her friends got sick from food poisoning at a neighbor's sleepover -- had to pick her up mid-way through the Usos match. -- Loved Lynch-Ripley. The sequence leading to the electric chair drop from the outside was impressive. I was expecting a Hart-Austin double turn as the match went on, and Lynch did lean heel during the bout. Time to strap a rocket to Ripley and let her shine on her own. Lynch having portions of her book on her tights cracked me up. -- The tag team ladder match was fine -- happy for R-Truth having his WM moment -- but the last-minute (I believe) decision to essentially have two separate ladder matches for both sets of belts soured it for me. The Aussies quickly became an afterthought after winning the SD belts. -- The lucha tag was an afterthought for the two Eagles players showing up, though I liked their cameo. Still, them showing up out of nowhere grinded the match to a halt. -- Given the weather and such, I would have given the seconds for both teams, I don't know, matching jogging suits to wear. Never been a fan of wrestlers not scheduled to compete showing up in their spandex outside the ring. It's like, say, LeBron James, sitting on the bench in his uniform with a torn ACL. -- The "Battle of the Usos" was what would have happened if we watched the Young Bucks fight on super slo-mo. Not sure what in the world "Yeet" means, but I got Hack Myers flashbacks hearing those chants.

After seeing Knuckles in the crowd, I had the voice of Warner Wolf in my head ... "AND KNUCKLES WAS AT THE GAME!" A bit of nitpick, but does NXT even try with its ring announcing? No weights, no where they are from. It's "HERE'S WRESTLER A! AND THEIR OPPONENT, WRESTLER B!" This is the first time I've seen NXT matches in full -- is this par for the course? Tony D'Angelo has promise, but needs something better than "FBI Version 2" to move up. Main event was OK, but the ref bumps were a bit absurd. Also, a high knee doesn't seem like a big finisher in a main event.

NY Post reports that Norby Williamson has been given the boot at ESPN. Pat McAfee may lead an hour-long conga line on his show to celebrate.

Watched the DDT Philly show online. Saw Dan the Dad wrestle a giant baby otter mascot. One announcer said if you just tuned in and have no clue what is going on, dont worry, he has no clue either. The otter superplexed Dan through a door to win, only to be attacked by Chris Brookes, who hates giant mascots. Then Yoshihiko came out and saved the day. No clue what was happening, but it was hilarious and absurd. Andrew Everett was also on the show -- hadnt seen him since his Impact days. Curious why he has never been picked up by a larger promotion -- he was pretty talented in Impact.

Saw just now that Martin Short announced a fundraising drive last month to get a FT caregiver for Joe, who was in "failing health." Went on an SCTV binge a few weeks back ... all cast members were great, but Joe, Eugene Levy and Andrea Martin were the rocks of the show. I think they were there for every episode and could be the utility players that such shows need. Now I want to see a wrestling company adopt a Guy Caballero gimmick with a guy who only uses a wheelchair for "respect" and simply walks around because he can. Also a shame that Netflix never released its SCTV tribute while Joe was with us.

She teamed with Rachel Ellering in that womens tag tournament that aired on YT during the pandemic.

Didn't realize some of them were under contract and/or still under a deal. I think Jora Johl worked one ROH show but hasn't been seen on AEW in a year. Cagematch lists his last match as November, so I'm curious if he's hurt or moving on with his life. (honestly believed he worked on a per-match deal) Didn't understand the Grayson re-signing -- turns on DO, joins The Righteous then vanishes without a trace. Dasha was a surprise release, as I thought she was a good B-show ring announcer.

Highlights of AEW vs. CMLL from March 29 at Arena Mexico ... (2) CMLL - AEW VS CMLL / ARENA MÉXICO/29-03-24 - YouTube Highlights of Team Willow Nightingale vs. Team Stephanie Vaquer ... (2) CMLL - LA CATALINA -WILLOW N. -TESSA BLANCHARD VS LLUVIA -ZEIXIS - S. VAQUER/ARENA MÉXICO/29-03-24 - YouTube

The Bang Bang home invasion was unintentionally funny -- from Jay White arriving in a minivan to Billy Gunn leaving the TV and lights on in his house, as well as apparently only watching his own matches and storylines on his own TV. Once Jay mentioned "no pictures of Caster and Bowens," part of me wanted me to hear " ... but lots of pictures of Chuck Palumbo for some reason or another." Toni Storm now being introduced as being "from Stage 7 of the Warner Bros. lot" (I think) demands an Animaniacs cameo now if not sooner.

Wheeler Yuta has been pulled from Friday's Arena Mexico show over medical clearance issues. He will be replaced in the eight-man by Matt Sydal.

Walsh was actually in a movie that was released earlier this month. It's a Mario Van Peebles Western called "Outlaw Posse." Currently available to rent on Prime and YT.

HAROLD AND THE PURPLE CRAYON The film version of the classic children's book arrives in theaters August 2. In the book, Harold was four. In the movie, Harold is middle-aged and played by Zachary Levi. And this is why we hate focus groups, too many cooks, etc.