All the Hidden Endings to Marvel Comics Avengers Prequels in One Convenient Place

I've now seen all the Marvel Studios-produced films leading up to next year's Avengers movie (and my God, I hope it's awesome), and with the disappointing exception of Iron Man 2, I damn near love them.  Here, in breathless anticipation of the Avengers film, are the teaser scenes that appear after the end credits of the previous movies.

Iron Man:



The Incredible Hulk (I couldn't find the actual scene, but a piece of it was used in a TV commercial for the film)


Iron Man 2 (the worst of the films, but the best teaser scene):


Thor:



And finally, Captain America:



Avengers assemble!

Tuesday's Forgotten Film: The Boy Who Could Fly

I haven't discussed a movie for this feature in awhile, so I'll get back to them with this one recommended by a coworker of mine.  The Boy Who Could Fly is about a teen girl who befriends an austistic boy in the neighborhood she moves into.  The boy never speaks a word, but spends hours in his backyard trying to fly.

The girl is encouraged by her teacher (played by the late Colleen Dewhurst) to get closer to the boy, which she does.  The girl later is knocked out in a fall and dreams that the boy is successful in learning to fly.  As she recovers, the boy is taken to an institution.  Will the two be reunited?  I haven't seen this film, but I'm interested to find out.  The film also stars a young Fred Savage.

The film is available for viewing at YouTube (for a fee) and probably at other streaming services as well.  It's also available on DVD. 

Here is a fan-made music video that features various scenes from the film.  Enjoy!

More Classic Burger King Commercials

As you may have heard, Burger King is nixing their TV commercials featuring the giant-headed, speechless King in favor of showcasing the actual food.  Many people were either put off by or completely creeped out by the King, but he never bothered me.  That's because I remember the King when he was human, spoke, sang, and even performed magic.  Don't believe me?  Take a look!

Here are several commercials featuring not only the King, but several characters, including the curmudgeonly Duke of Doubt, designed to compete with the phenomenonally popular McDonald's characters.  They existed for a good five years or so, yet very few people seem to remember them today.  Enjoy!  Also, take a look at past Burger King commercials I've posted here (well, at least those YouTube hasn't pulled).

Tuesday's Forgotten TV: 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee

Welcome once again to Tuesday's Forgotten, where we dig up an underrated/forgotten/overlooked gem of the past.  This week, it's the TV special 33 1/3 Revolutions Per Monkee.

The special aired on April 14, 1969 on NBC, and would be the Monkees last new TV appearance under that name until their first reunion tour in 1986.  The loose plot of the special involves two strange villians who plan to take over the world by brainwashing the population through the music of the Monkees, who in turn are brainwashed themselves.  The band members then try to fight for their own identities throughout the special through their music.  Guest stars include Jerry Lee Lewis, Fats Domino, and Little Richard, among others.

I've known of this special almost as long as I've been a huge fan of the Monkees (about 25 years now), but have never seen it before.  Enjoy it with me, won't you?

The special is also notable for two reasons: it involves the idea of the boys trying to overcome their image as pre-fab creations rather than legitimate artists, which is the same theme as their lone theatrical film, Head; it also is the final Monkees project involving Peter Tork (until the '86 reunion), who left the band immediately after the special was created.  Michael Nesmith would leave less than a year later.

Speaking of the film Head, it's airing this week on the digital TV network Antenna TV.  Look for exact air times here.  I highly recommend it.  Thanks!  For more great Tuesday's Overlooked entries, please visit here.

Spider-Man as Pitchman

"Spider-Man, Spider-Man, sells a product like no one can..." Those aren't the real words to the famous theme song to his 1960s cartoon series, but Spidey has been used to shill some products and services from time to time.

First up is an item I've posted before. This is a commercial for the old video game made by Parker Brothers for the first Atari home video game system (later renamed the Atari 2600). I love the look of this commercial, especially the awesome Green Goblin costume!



Here's two for McDonald's Happy Meal toys.




This Spidey fan gets to swing right along with Webhead--in his imagination.



In this famous commercial for Visa check cards, Spidey and his Marvel friends are ready to help, until it's revealed to be a false alarm. Guest starring a surprise hero!



In another financial services commercial, we learn that although great at web swinging, his golf swing is terrible!



Here, Spider-Man congratulates some 70s-era youngsters for wearing Sanger Harris clothing. There's nothing creepy about that, right?



Finally, to show that Spidey isn't all about the Benjamins, here he is in a PSA urging everyone to vote.



Excelsior!

Tuesday's Forgotten TV: Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie

I've been thinking a lot about 70s children's TV lately, such as Sesame Street and The Electric Company, and in thinking of all this, I vaguely remembered a cartoon with children characters and a female vocalist, who I later realized featured characters by legendary chidlren's author and illustrator Maurice Sendak and equally legendary singer/songwriter Carole King.  I searched for what this program was and discovered that it was this.

Maurice Sendak's Really Rosie is a half hour animated version of an off-Broadway musical based on various works of Sendak's with songs written by King.  The special aired on CBS in February 1975, although I definitely saw it later than that (only being six months old at the time). It's as charming and well done as one would hope it would be.  The special was briefly available on home video, but a DVD has never been released.  The stage musical, however, is a staple among live children's theater to this day.  Enjoy!

Fantastic Four's 50th Anniversary

Today marks the 50th anniversary of the release of Fantastic Four #1, the comic book that started the Marvel Comics Group as we know it.  In their honor, please enjoy these episodes of the team's various animated series.

From the original 60s series on ABC.





The 70s series on NBC (minus the Torch--hello Herbie!).





The 90s Fox series (with terrible theme song.




And finally, the 2000s series from UPN. This episode guest starts the She-Hulk!

Sesame Street Episode 514

Hey kids!  I'm on a big Sesame Street kick now that I've read a book about the making of the series; I may write a review of the book soon if time permits.  In the meantime, here is a full episode of the series from back in the 1970s, when many fans, myself included, claim the show was at its peak. This episode features a guest appearance by Stevie Wonder.  Not a bad way to start an episode! Enjoy!