This sort of shakeup is not unexpected after a change at the top of a studio and with the shift in the company to include more avenues of distribution for its products. Still after the success they brought Disney, I hope Zoradi and Cook are able to find great positions wherever they want.

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Zoradi follows Cook departs Walt Disney Studios
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Mr. Q had a large role in designing the ambient sound for Walt Disney World and solving one of the big problems encountered when moving from land to land… where does one soundtrack end and the other begin?

In the mid 1990’s, the park started researching the problem. It would eventually find no existing solution, so the engineers had to design and construct, on their own, one of the most complex and advanced audio systems ever built. The work paid off: today, as you walk through Disney World, the volume of the ambient music does not change. Ever. More than 15,000 speakers have been positioned using complex algorithms to ensure that the sound plays within a range of just a couple decibels throughout the entire park. It is quite a technical feat acoustically, electrically, and mathematically.

As we land, I ask Mr Q what he considers the highlight of his career. He describes how he wrote some software for “manufacturing emotion” with the thousands of new speakers in the park. The system he built can slowly change the style of the music across a distance without the visitor noticing. As a person walks from Tomorrowland to Fantasyland, for example, each of the hundreds of speakers slowly fades in different melodies at different frequencies so that at any point you can stop and enjoy a fully accurate piece of music, but by the time you walk 400 feet, the entire song has changed and no one has noticed.

More at How Mr. Q Manufactured Emotion.

(Via BoingBoing)

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Inventing Ambient Sound for Walt Disney World
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Frankly, I would rather have seen an article on Abigail Disney’s philanthropist efforts. Her Daphne Foundation has been making a difference in New York City’s social justice and poverty arena for almost twenty years now. She produced the award winning documentary Pray the Devil Back to Hell which chronicles the remarkable story of the courageous Liberian women who came together to end a bloody civil war and bring peace to their shattered country. Find a screening near you.

Those interested in learning more or supporting Abigail’s causes can follow her on twitter.

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Philanthropist Abigail Disney deals by economy
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Ballroom Round:

Mya and Dmitry Chaplin - Quickstep: Mya and Len have come to the conclusion that the judges are full of nonsense and they should continue doing they best they can to please the viewers. Wise. Mya’s dancing was, as usual, clean, classy, and seemingly critique-proof. But for the first time in eight weeks, Len liked their performance! His Grumpiness said he couldnt find anything wrong with it, Bruno compared their dance to fine champagne, and Carrie Ann said they were perfectly in sync. Scores: 9-10-10.

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff - Foxtrot: Aaron claims he has never won anything in his life. Say what, pop star? What about all the tweenage hearts you’ve won over the years? Poor Karina has the flu, and they both rehearse with masks as though a face mask will prevent the spread of the ballroom plague. As if the flu wasn’t bad enough, Karina is made to wear sparkly pink goucho pants. The foxtrot tends to be more of a fun, old-Hollywood style dance, and this routine was a more contemporary version. For me, it was lacking in the pop! the foxtrot usually has. Bruno said Aaron’s dancing was tense, Carrie Ann called out a lift, and Len said he was proud but …. so that doesn’t bode well. Scores: 7-8-8.

Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough - Quickstep: Derek had the ballroom plague the last time Joanna had the quickstep. The producers have assigned Joanna and Mya the same dance, so instead of focusing on Joanna’s technique, they waste their rehearsal time watching Mya’s footage. Eyes on your own paper! Their routine started with what Len would term “messing about” and continued to be marked by Joanna’s sloppy arms and horrendous feet (It’s week eight – she should have learned to point her toes by now). I found this incredibly painful to watch, and thankfully Carrie Ann called her out for those feet, Len said it wasn’t up to quarterfinals standards, and Bruno said it wasn’t one of her best. Scores: 8-7-8.

Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel – Foxtrot: Kelly hasn’t had a ballroom dance since week one – how is that possible? And ohmigod Kelly’s dogs are so cute can I have them please? I wouldn’t be able to concentrate on rehearsals either, if I had all that adorableness in the room. And hey, when did Kelly get so good? This was an awesome routine for her and her personality really came out to shine. All of the judges praised her grace and charm but said she needed to work on her footwork. Scores: 8-8-9.

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson – Viennese Waltz: No other couple is doing the Viennese Waltz tonight, so Donny doesn’t have to worry about besting anyone. This was a sweet, light, sophisticated waltz. Really, truly lovely, like the perfect wedding dance.  Bruno called him the ultimate entertainer, Carrie Ann said she was mesmerized, and Len said there was too much fluffy stuff. Scores: 9-8-9.

Latin Round: To show everyone how it’s done, out come the professionals … including a couple I don’t recognize. Could these guys be practicing for next season?

Mya and Dmitry Chaplin - Samba: In case Dmitry’s mustache didn’t tip you off, they were assigned the 70’s. Beep beep! Awesome samba time! This was fun, exciting, and appropriately cheesy – 70’s cheesy, not Ian Ziering cheesy. Carrie Ann said she now believes Mya is in it to win it, Len said she was on fire, and Bruno “sang” Ain’t No Mountain High Enough. Who’s going to the finals? Mya is! Scores: 10-10-10. First 30 of the season!

Aaron Carter and Karina Smirnoff - Samba: Aaron has the 90’s, which is appropriate, since that’s the last time he was famous. He attempts to teach Karina 90’s dancing (is there even such a thing?); Karina becomes confused. And guess what? Those moves look as lame now as they did in the 90’s. The samba parts in this routine were great, although Aaron is still going overboard with his arms. Len said they sold it, Bruno said his energy was put to good use, and Carrie Ann called him a great performer. Scores: 9-9-9.

Joanna Krupa and Derek Hough - Paso Doble: Is “the future” a decade? Let’s say no. Joanna and Derek have the 2000’s, and apparently I missed the part in this past decade where we looked like extras from The Fifth Element. In the future, Joanna’s legs are still a mess and Derek is a David Bowie Halloween costume. The choreography was very cool, but was it a paso doble? Meh. Bruno called it a masterful reinvention, Carrie Ann called out a stumble, and Len called it genius. I think the judges were overly dazzled by the great choreography and overlooked a lot of Joanna’s shortcomings. Scores: 9-10-10.

Kelly Osbourne and Louis Van Amstel - Jive: These guys have the 60’s, and they took a mod approach to the routine. Cuteness! Kelly needs to watch out for sometimes-flailing arms, but this was a fun, groovy, clean dance. The rag doll prop was a little weird (not that it was the first time there’s been doll-related weirdness on this show – *cough Marie Osmond cough*). Len called her a revelation, Bruno yelled “come back to daddy!” and Carrie Ann called it one of her best performances. Scores: 8-9-9.

Donny Osmond and Kym Johnson – Paso Doble: There were a couple of ways they could have taken their 80’s look – Sid & Nancy punk, Dirty Dancing romance, or Brat Pack adorable. In the end, Crazy 80’s won out. All that was missing from their costumes was a Flock of Seagulls hairdo for Donny. Remember that doll weirdness I just *cough* mentioned? It was like that, but with more smoke. And fake mutton chops. Len called it crazy, Bruno said it had more camp than something having to do with drag queens, and Carrie Ann called it over the edge and insane. Understatement. Scores: 8-8-8.

Big happenings tomorrow night – we find out which four couples are in the semifinals. I’m thinking tonight was Aaron’s last stand, assuming America isn’t too traumatized to vote for Donny. Plus: Susan Boyle is the musical guest! Be sure to check back here for the full recap.

When she’s not spinning right round baby right round, The Disney Chick can be found at www.thedisneychick.com.

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Dancing with the Stars: Week Eight Performances
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“We really appreciate Disney VoluntEARS coming out here to help as one large organization,” said John Porter, chairman of Keep Brevard Beautiful. “It makes a huge impact for our county and will make the beaches nicer for everyone.”

Joined by friends and family, Disney VoluntEARS from Walt Disney World Resort, Disney Cruise Line and Walt Disney Imagineering helped protect the environment and preserve the natural beauty of nearly four miles of beach near the Disney Cruise Line terminal in Port Canaveral. The majority of items picked up were cigarette butts, bottle caps and fishing line.

“Small objects – such as cigarette butts and fishing line – may look really insignificant, but they can be life-threatening to marine animals,” said Jackie Ogden, vice president of Animal Programs and Environmental Initiatives for Walt Disney Parks & Resorts. “Picking up trash on the beach is a simple action that people can take to really make a difference for wildlife and wild places.”

Coastal Cleanup participants are acting locally as part of a global mission to eliminate ocean debris, protect marine life and make the beaches more enjoyable for everyone. This year, the Ocean Conservancy estimates 500,000 volunteers – one million helping hands worldwide – will join in on the effort.

“Trash along our beaches and waterways threatens marine wildlife and undermines tourism and other economic activities,” said Dianne Sherman, director of the International Coastal Cleanup. “The Cleanup gives everyone a chance to be a part of an important global movement to end the tide of ocean trash.”

Disney’s involvement in the Ocean Conservancy’s International Coastal Cleanup spans six years; since 2003, more than 1,700 VoluntEARS have picked up more than 26,000 pounds of garbage at Florida Coastal Cleanup events.

The Walt Disney Company, through the Disney VoluntEARS program, provides opportunities for Cast Members to contribute their time and expertise toward positively impacting their communities. Disney VoluntEARS are active in Central Florida; in 2008, they gave more than 204,000 hours in service to the community ranging from serving meals to the homeless to coaching Little League.

Don’t forget that beginning January 1st you can register online with Disney to get a free days admission in exchange for a volunteer shift.

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Disney VoluntEARS join International Coastal Cleanup
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In addition, you may want to book “Breakfast with Jack Hanna” for another opportunity to get up close with Jack’s animal friends. To book your reservation for Breakfast with Jack Hanna, visit SeaWorldOrlando.com or call 1.888.800.5447. (Show times are subject to change.)

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Meet Jack Hanna at SeaWorld Orlando
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Not in London? You can register to bid live online.

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Disney Animation Auction coming up at Christie’s
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The mischievous sorcerer’s apprentice of “Fantasia’’ has become an empty vessel, devoid of any of the sharp edges that might define his character.

I have to say I don’t agree at all. Going back to Runaway Brain, attempts to reinvigorate Mickey have inevitably ended back at the original Mickey Mouse – an adventurer, a ladies man, and a funny guy. As always, a reflection of his creator. Epic Mickey is going to be more of the same.

What Mickey does need is to be relevant. He’s at his best when he’s doing some sort of commentary on society, usually with a humorous angle. His role as an entrepreneur in the House of Mouse series was a step in the right direction. While not really commentary, Mickey Mouse Clubhouse has also done a good job reacquainting a whole new generation of kids with the character.

The direction I would take Mickey in is to put him in situations we’re all dealing with. In today’s economy Mickey should be championing the little people. Give him an electric car, send him to the mall, the unemployment line, make him a doctor, send him back to school. Some of Mickey’s best moments in his early career involved spoofing celebrity. That would fit in today too.

Where would you like to see Mickey Mouse go from here?

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Does Mickey really need a makeover?
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Small World Holiday Disney Parks Commercial
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If you’re coming to Walt Disney World this week you might want to call and see if the 2008 Hurricane Policy is still in force. But basically, just come prepared for rain with a couple ponchos and good water proof shoes or Keen like sandles you can wear without socks (my personal preference).

The best advice is to stay safe and follow any advisories Disney or your hotel might give out.

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Hurricane Watch for Walt Disney World
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Also see here’s the music video for “Never Knew I Needed” by Ne-Yo (opens in new window as embedding is disabled)

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The Princess and the Frog: Behind the Music
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• Trevor Hogg is writing a three-part profile on Pixar Studios being posted by the UK film website Flickering Myth. Part Two will be posted on Nov. 11 and Part Three on Nov. 18.
• A.O. Scott of the New York Times actually gives “A Christmas Carol” a positive review. Other than a few uncanny valley problems and a weak third act, he thinks Zemeckis did justice to the subject matter. Might be a bit scary for the young ones, however.
• A giant Mickey Mouse balloon will appear in the Macy’s Thanksgiving Day Parade this year. This raises an interesting quandry as traditionally, the floats and balloons appear at Universal Studios Orlando after the New York event.
• If you like “V” on ABC tune in to a special ‘Social Commentary‘ this Saturday. Show experts and fans can leave their commentary as the show streams online.
• Bloomberg News reports on some of the Chinese villagers who will be relocated to make way for Shanghai Disneyland.
• It’s interesting to see how fears of contracting swine flu while on vacation at a Disney themepark are playing across the pond.
• Meanwhile, it’s not the flu, but the sick economy that is delaying the construction of Disney World’s West Gate development – Flamingo Crossing.
• Don’t forget to go register for “Townsquare” the official forums of The Disney Blog. Over 100 have already signed up.
• Finally, check out this list of the 5 coolest new theme parks. Anything you think they’re missing?

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Around the Hub – Fright Night Lights
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1) Our Heroes’ private lives continue to be tossed in turmoil as the effects of their seemingly inevitable flashes continue to mount.  We find out who the Blue Hand group is, apparently – a “death cult” of sorts, made up of those who saw nothing during their blackouts and presumably have nothing to live for.  Mark, Demetri (still can’t get used to why people call him “Dem”) and Al attempt to infiltrate one such meeting.  We watch a quick Russian Roulette-type interrogation with an old codger of a gatekeeper and see Al step in to immediately pull the trigger on himself.  In light of events at the end of the episode, I wonder if even then he was seeking ways to “break the pattern” and prove to himself that he can prevent what’s to come.

I love Alex Kingston – she was one of my favorite parts of watching “ER” back in the day – and I’m glad she’s at least a recurring part of the cast.  I wonder now, since Al’s suicide, if she will remain or go back to England.  Hopefully we’ll see her again.

Not much more to add to Al’s Leap of Faith – yes, there were probably still other things he could have done to prevent the accidental killing of “Celia” (whoever she was, and however it would have happened).  I still can’t believe nothing like this hasn’t happened to somebody around the world already – an accident, a suicide, a sense of invulnerability and immunity to harm based on seeing themselves alive 6 months hence.  But now it has, and we can put that speculation aside (finally).  The future can be changed – there’s no doubting it anymore.  Demetri can save himself and still get married to his fiancee.  Mark and Olivia and prevent their respective “indiscretions” (how wonderful was that hug between them at the end? Like a drowning man suddenly tossed a life preserver).  And Fiona can save the little bird :)

2) Aaron receives another key component to his flashforward, a pocketknife belonging to his (presumably dead) daughter given to him by the soldier who was with her when she was lost.  I didn’t trust the young soldier at first, and thought perhaps he was party to the people who either rescued or kidnapped her after the attack and was sent to eliminate her dad (or at least distract him from pursuing the truth) but it seems he was on the up and up.  I wonder if he’ll join Aaron in his search–

Oh, wait.  No need.  Dear Daughter just turned up back at Aaron’s home!  “Hi Daddy! What’s for dinner?” the formerly missing, formerly dead soldier seemingly says to him from the kitchen table.  Now, assuming this is not a cheat – another flash, a dream, a vision, a hallucination – his daughter is in fact alive and well and living in L.A.  Not much more to go on, but I still wonder if the Corporal might be involved in her now return…  Have to wait till next week.

3) Babysitter Nicole somehow luckily knows Japanese (her father was stationed in Okinawa when she was a kid and she remembers some of the language) so in her new hospital volunteer role, she’s suddenly all buddy-buddy with Dr. Despair-turned-Optimist Bryce.  We finally get a glimpse of his flash – an evening spent out with an apparently hypnotic Japanese lady, and a mysterious Oriental character seen behind her.  Nicole completes and translates the character for him, which tells him…not much.  His search goes on.  I like how his suicide-to-hope changed mirrors Al’s hope-to-suicide development.  It would be nice if that dichotomy is pursued.   We still need to learn eventually what drove him to almost jump off that pier in the series premiere – there’s a lot we don’t know about Bryce and I think parts will be key to the whole mystery.

4) Who is the mysterious lady (I forgot the name already) spelled out in the bracelet that Simon is holding in his (brief) part of the ending montage?  I’m going to hope he didn’t steal it from the woman he met on the train last week :)

5) The interactions between Olivia and Lloyd are both cute and painful to watch, as they struggle to prevent any possible attraction or connection between them.  I think this very struggle may lead to a mutual attraction, despite their efforts.

6) A month after the blackouts and downtown buildings in LA are still covered with tarp from all those choppers and planes that crashed into them?  What kind of shoddy workmen are they hiring down there? :)

7) Back to the flashes very quickly – we’re starting to get small bits of information about the nature of the blackouts and why people saw what they saw (or didn’t see) but there’s still a big question to be answered regarding Mark’s Fox Mulder Memorial Bulletin Board of Conspiracy ™ – that of, in a future 6 months down the road supposedly when the blackouts hadn’t happened,  how he has obtained all of these clues?   I think we may find out that Mark’s flash is of a different nature than the others in some way, since it was more prescient-seeming than others we’ve seen.

Time will tell.

Barry

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Flash Forward, Episode 107: “The Gift”
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As always The El Capitan was an assault on the senses. The garlands strung across the red suede draped interior wall between the lobby and the theater are the first evidence of Christmas cheer. As you head to your seats the huge garlands strung across the sides of the theater lovingly usher you into the holidays. Rob Richards’ fabulous renditions of Christmas songs on The “Mighty Wurlitzer” are the final touch completely enveloping you in the holiday spirit.

At the El Capitan, Disney often likes to create pre-shows for their movies which usually involve the featured characters appearing and dancing to a musical number. This is fun and the children love it. While marketed as “Disney’s Holiday Spectacular”, I expected something similar. I was wrong. The Disney Holiday Spectacular is a large production with five characters and 10 singers and dancers, not to mention multiple sets and numbers. I was completely blown away by what Disney put on; all of the classic Christmas carols are included. The show goes out with a bang, which I wouldn’t want to spoil, but let’s just say it involves high-kicks that rival the Rockettes and a little white Christmas. Usually the pre-shows at the El Capitan are mostly for the kids, but by the last number I doubt there was anyone who wasn’t singing along.

Robert Zemeckis has created a movie, which is not only a wonderful and fitting adaptation of the Charles Dickens novel, but one that also manages to do so while appealing to the whole family. Some have questioned whether it is appropriate for children and while there are some frightening scenes all the kids in my screening handled it very well. This latest rendition of A Christmas Carol breathes life into a story so prevalent it has descended into cliché and manages to imbue the Christmas spirit in each viewer.

I’ve often questioned the use of motion capture technology and 3D as they seemed to be a gimmicks not necessary to enhance the plot, A Christmas Carol has given me at least one example where this is not true. These technologies as well as the ability of director Robert Zemeckis help you fly through London and into Ebenezer Scrooge’s past, without even getting dizzy. This film made me glad that Disney had not attempted this earlier, because I can’t imagine a better film. As soon as I left the theater I wanted to see it again, I hoping I can wait to go with my family, on Christmas day.

If you live in the Los Angeles area I highly recommend you check this out at the El Capitan, where it is playing until January 3rd, including Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Years. Even if you don’t live in Los Angeles it’s worth checking out in the theaters, as Robert Zemeckis’ use of 3D is by far the best I’ve seen.

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El Capitan Theater Hosts A Christmas Carol Spectacular
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Registering is easy. Just head to http://thedisneyblog.com/townsquare (or click the ‘forums’ button at the top of this page) and click where it says ‘register’ in the middle of the page. Or you can go right there by clicking here. Enter your information and a password will be sent to the email you provide. (You may need to check your spam folder to find the email.)

I created Townsquare because I think every community needs a place to mingle. In small town America the town square was a place for the community to gather and discuss the latest news, share rumors, and socialize. Walt Disney built a town square in each of his Magic Kingdoms that served much the same function.

Please be sure to read our Community Guidelines before posting. Then once you’re ready, post about anything Disney related (or use the Holidayland area for non-Disney topics). I hope you’ll find The Disney Blog’s Townsquare a great place to mingle and be a Disney fan and to meet other Disney fans.

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Introducing “Townsquare” – Forums for The Disney Blog
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One last little bit to share from the media event for Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee at the Magic Kingdom. I got the chance to meet and interview Tara Anderson, Show Director from Creative Entertainment at Walt Disney World Resort.

Her previous work at the Magic Kingdom includes the Move It! Shake It Celebrate It! Street Party – which shares a very similar energy to Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee. A good thing in my book.

In the three and a half minute interview we discuss coordinating development of the show on both coasts, the song choices, and more.

[Audio clip: view full post to listen]

Update: The Disneyland Version will officially open tomorrow. The LA Times has a preview.

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Interview with Tiana’s Showboat Jubilee Show Director
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Fortune Magazine looks at some of the lessons Disney can take away from their experience in Hong Kong that might serve them well in future expansion into Asia markets.

[Disney] failed to gauge local tastes, opened with a park that was too small to meet the grandiose expectations of its clientele, made some public relations mistakes early on, and took too long to adapt to local food, culture, and tastes, according to Allan Zeman, the chairman of the rival Ocean Park theme park in Hong Kong.

“Disney, on the other hand, came in very American,” Zeman says. “Disney was a big brand, not really understanding the culture at the beginning. They had everything run out of the U.S. At the beginning there was a sense of arrogance: ‘We’re Disney, and don’t tell us how to run a theme park.’”

Hong Kong Disneyland also earned the wrath of the Hong Kong press corps by taking a long time to respond to queries with answers that had to be approved through U.S. headquarters

In hindsight it’s obvious Disney didn’t know what they were getting into when they built Hong Kong Disneyland. Let’s hope they’ve done their homework for Shanghai?

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What Can Disney Learn from Hong Kong before building in Shanghai?
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It seems like we’ve been waiting forever, but the Visitors finally showed up last night with the premiere of V, ABC’s newest sci-fi offering.

The episode opened with an attempt to make it personal – captions reading “Where were you when JFK was assassinated? Where were you on 9/11?” led into “Where were you this morning?” So right off the bat, anyone who has not seen any advance info about this show is going to know – something big’s about to happen.

Tuesday, 6:30 a.m. Having asked “Where were you?” the first block shows us where (and who) our main players are. FBI Agent Erica Evans (Elizabeth Mitchell) awakens to her house shaking. She finds her son Tyler (Logan Huffman) is not in his bed and gets him on the cell, to find he’s in the ER, and barely feeling bad about it. This theme is going to play strong on this show – Erica wants to protect her son, but he’s not going to make it easy for her.

Newsman Chad Decker (Scott Wolf) is showering and heading into work. Ryan Nicholls (Morris Chestnut) is buying an engagement ring. Father Jack is opening the church doors. Val, Ryan’s girlfriend, is at home. It’s difficult to show simultaneous action on a TV show, and the pace felt a little off. We get a shaking water glass next to Erica right off the bat, but it’s several minutes before we see Val’s shaking coffee cup, FJ’s shaking light fixture, Ryan’s ring jumping around on the counter. Regardless, things start to shake, rattle and roll, and you can tell they’re not earthquake-savvy Californians – rather than run to the nearest doorway, Val seems to try to stop her bookshelves from falling over first.

In the street, Ryan does what so many of us have done since 9/11, what must be second-nature to New Yorkers by now – he looks to the sky to see what’s falling. The writers don’t disappoint – the fighter jet falling out of the sky gave me a lurch of déjà vu that was most unpleasant. Eight years later, and not even American, and I can recall the footage from 9/11 in a heartbeat. It brings a tear to my eye every time.

The giant Mother Ships darken the sky and all hell breaks loose. They could have saved some money by inserting footage from movies past – as one onscreen citizen put it, “This IS Independence Day.” And Deep Impact, and The Day After Tomorrow, and so many other running-from-the-end-of-the-world scenes. Conveniently placed TVs show newscasters reporting similar Mother Ships hovering over 29 major cities around the world.

The introduction of Visitors is very cool compared to the 1983 version (more on the comparison later). The bottom of the Mother Ships morphs into a giant movie-screen type thing. On the ground, we see Erica’s maternal “get behind my arm kid, I’ll protect you” gesture with Tyler. Erica’s a mother bear, through and through. And then, like a benevolent supreme being from on high, Anna’s smiling face gazes down on the planet.

Anna’s message is heard in the appropriate languages around the world, and it’s one of hope, promise, and reassurance. We need this, we’ll give you this in return. The actual wording seemed very close to what I remember from the 1983 miniseries, although one thing caught my notice – these Visitors are being upfront about taking the water. Twenty-five years ago, that was the big secret –they wanted to suck the planet dry. Here, they admit to wanting the water – so I’m wondering, what do they REALLY want? Anna winds up her message with a mantra that will be repeated throughout the episode: “We are of peace.”

The response is frightening – people in the street clap and cheer and issue a collective sigh of relief. We can’t even agree on how to share the water in the Great Lakes among North Americans, but hey, we’ll send the water skyward ‘cause you’re pretty and you’re promising better health care and better technology than an iPhone. Um, kay.

Wednesday. FJ and his co-priest (didn’t catch his name) are arguing about the Vatican’s declaration that the Visitors are God’s creatures. FJ is suspicious, but his senior reminds him they are there to minister to their congregation. FJ laments about their congregation of 4, but when the two of them enter the sanctuary, they’re floored to see a full house. Foxhole faith at its best – in times of crisis, everyone believes in God.

Erica talks with partner Dale on the phone; he’s wondering how she can focus on work at a time like this. “Visitors drop by for a drink,” she says. This is different. She’s noticed that terrorist chatter dropped like a stone when the Visitors arrived – all except one cell, which appears to be stockpiling C-4 explosives. On TV, we all watch Anna arrive at the UN, flirt with Chad and dismiss any critical inquiry from the rest of the media. From the look on Tyler’s face as he watches, he’s pretty close to drinking the Kool-Aid.

Chad is the first to use the term “V’s”. I don’t like it. It seems contrived and for us traditionalists, who remember that the spray-painted V stood for “Victory”, I think it’s going to be hard to get used to.

Three weeks later. Chad tells us from the news desk that cities with Mother Ships have become destinations – there’s a rise in tourism, V merchandise sales, etc. Whoo hoo – health care, technology AND jobs? These guys MUST be all right.

Erica’s got a lead on that chatty terrorist cell – one that brings her and Dale to an underground tunnel on Long Island, and straight to a dead guy, false documents and the C-4. Looks like someone tipped off the bad guys before Erica got there. Erica’s FBI outfit – particularly the baseball cap – just didn’t seem to fit on her. Like our famous Juliet from Lost, however, the girl knows how to posture with a gun.

Ryan’s getting mysterious phone calls from Georgie (David Richmond-Peck), and he’s trying to ignore them. “That’s not who I am anymore,” he insists. Val’s getting suspicious though.

Tyler and Brandon have scored a ride on the Magic Carpet – er, V transport craft – and head for a tour of the Mother Ship. There they meet V Lisa, who’s oh-so-pretty – like a really dangerous Barbie doll. “Join the Peace Ambassadors,” she pouts. Saving the world, hanging with pretty girls AND a cool uniform? Tyler’s hooked, and I’m not liking him very much right now.

FJ warns from the pulpit of the dangers of trusting too much too quickly. In spite of the nodding heads in the pews, his superior takes him to task for it. The V’s are doing good, they’re a blessing in disguise (oh, if only you knew!). But FJ warns with one of the best lines of the night: “Under the right conditions, gratitude can turn to worship. And worship can turn to devotion.”

The Meeting. Our principals are now on a collision course with each other. Erica and Dale execute another search, again to find their prey has eluded them. But there’s a clue! A text message giving directions to “a meeting.” FJ receives a bloody envelope from an injured parishioner with instructions to attend “a meeting.” And Georgie corners Ryan and begs him to attend “a meeting.” We know an awful lot must be going to happen at this meeting, since we’re moving into the last block of the episode.

Meanwhile, Chad has been handpicked to conduct a live interview with Anna to quell some of the protesting and reassure the Earthlings that “we are of peace.” Anna lets Chad know right up front – no negativity or the interview’s not happening. Chad struggles with his conscience, but his ego wins – he’ll play by the rules.

Scenes from the meeting are interspersed with scenes of Anna’s interview. While the Supreme V talks of discarding negativity and embracing change – and incidentally promises universal health care – Georgie informs those gathered of the V’s true nature. Meeting-goers are first required to prove they’re human through and through – gah. You have to be mighty brave, or scared, or both to say, “Sure, I’ll let you take a scalpel to me in this dark and dingy warehouse.” The V’s, Georgie claims, are responsible for the unease we were feeling when they arrived. The wars, the strife, the flat economy, they started it all. It’s classic manipulation – unsettle a population and then present yourself as their Savior. FJ provides the proof – photographs of Erica’s dead guy. She realizes her sleeper cell is a V cell.

Pandemonium ensues at the warehouse when a techy little orb zooms in and explodes. The scene is very dark – it’s hard to tell how many baddies there are, and what they look like. Erica’s partner has her in a chokehold and she brains him with an iron bar – hey, that’s not his own skin! He’s a V! While Erica’s fighting to save HER skin, we see her tormented teen is forging Mom’s signature so he can sign up with the Vs. Ingrate. Ryan appears to help save the day at the warehouse, and reveals to Georgie his own secret – he’s a V too. But he’s a good guy – a traitor to his own. There’s more like him, and they’re going to help the Earthmen fight back. Just as soon as he breaks up with Val. Which he later can’t bring himself to do – so now we know where the expected inter-species romance is going to come from.

The interview is over, and Anna’s creepy sidekick offers Chad a pep talk. Compromising one’s principles for the greater good is not shameful, it’s noble. Chad’s the lucky one – he’s going to be famous!

Later, Erica and FJ share a moment where they discuss the necessity of fighting this new evil. “They’ve got the most powerful weapon there is,” says Erica. “Devotion.” FJ looks terrified, but vindicated, at this echoing of his own words.

We end with the Visitors welcoming their new Peace Ambassadors, Tyler among them. “It’s the dawn of a new day,” the announcer says, as Anna watches it all with a satisfied smile.

The inevitable comparisons

It is impossible for anyone who watched the 1983 series to watch the new V without comparing it to the old. For large numbers of viewers, myself included, there were few surprises. I watched my daughter watch the reveal that lizards lurk under those pretty faces, and she seemed more grossed out than truly shocked. The scene just didn’t seem as dramatic as watching Jane Badler’s Diana unhinge her jaws and swallow a guinea pig. Perhaps the producers downplayed the reveal on purpose – we already knew, so why try to make it a big deal? And the “huge ships hovering over the major cities” has been done and redone so many times in various forms the last 20 years, even that didn’t seem to raise my kid’s eyebrows.

This series is much darker, literally, than the first V. The citizens of Earth seem downtrodden and desperate, the future is bleak – I don’t recall anything similar being implied when the 1983 Visitors invaded. In that sense, V gives us a clearer context of how the human race can be so susceptible to promises of hope. Special effects-wise, it’s been generally agreed that CGI and other modern film techniques have eliminated the cheesiness often seen in portrayals of aliens and outer space. But again, it’s dark – these Mother Ships are gray, metallic, cold. They look creepy – in 1983 they looked sleek and bright, lots of white, implying newness and innocence. But then, on the inside, where the original had a very utilitarian feel, these Mother Ships appear to house a paradise.

And I miss the red jumpsuits, dark glasses and forage caps – our new V’s uniforms all have similar lines to one another, and they’re all gray or subdued colors, but they don’t look alien or out-of-place. The alien-ness – the aversion to light, the vibration in voice – is gone. It’s been replaced with flat, unemotional responses and facial expressions. In Anna’s words, “We’ve learned to process emotion quickly and discard all negativity.” In some ways, that’s even more alien. Diana was a power-hungry bully, and prone to deadly temper tantrums, but she was also capable of embarrassment and frustration. Anna’s quiet satisfaction sends a chill up your spine, but you’re not sure you can explain why.

I think the comparisons will fall by the wayside quickly. The big secret (such as it was) was out by the end of the first episode. It’s clear that this is a “re-imagining” as opposed to a remake and now that we’ve met all the principals we can settle in for a great, character-driven show. I’m really wondering what the V’s are really after – across the universe is a long way to travel just to brainwash folks. What’s in it for them in the long run?

The other comparison

Elizabeth Mitchell as Erica Evans is going to rock. For most of the episode, I couldn’t help but think “Juliet” every time I saw her, (in fact, when she brained her partner with the bar I was all, “Go, Juliet.”) but that had pretty much faded by the second viewing. I loved the sarcasm when she was giving it to Tyler for his tagging, and she’s done a good job of letting us know that Erica has layers. I hope Mitchell gets the opportunity to expand on her portrayal of other emotions like frustration and fear – she’s got determination down pat. I didn’t like Lost’s Juliet until –ok, I admit it, I still don’t. But Erica’s becoming a fave.

Three more episodes ‘til the break. Like the summer romance you know is going to end when everyone goes back to school, it’s natural to resist getting too attached. As much as I’m liking V so far, I’m still holding back a little; but one more episode and I think I might be a bona fide fan.

When not leading the resistance, S. Divnich Haggert can be found at Once I Was A Writer.

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V: The Arrival – Episode Recap
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The question is can ABC sustain, or even grow, those numbers. There are just three more episodes before the series goes on hiatus until March (to avoid the Winter Olympics and American Idol). During that time, the show will get retooled. This week they added new show runner charged with speeding up the pace of the show.

USA Today talked with Elizabeth Mitchell about the show before last night’s premier.

Mitchell, who plays hero FBI agent Erica Evans, says the resulting changes merely speed the pace of storytelling to pack a bigger wallop, including big cliffhangers in the Nov. 24 episode. Filming on that episode is set to wrap today, giving actors another unexpected 10-week break as the show is retooled. (Mitchell will trek to Hawaii to shoot new Lost episodes.)

“They didn’t do anything different. They heightened it, they took it up,” she says. The changes are meant to recapture the big-event appeal that started V in a different era. “The idea is to make it a movie, something where we are on the edge of our seats, wondering what’s going to happen.”

From what I saw last night, “V” will make sci-fi geeks very happy even as LOST draws to a close.

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“V” Premiers big, Retooling still ahead
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This week Walt Disney Studios released Walt Disney Treasures DVDs featuring the complete first and second season of Zorro. All 78 episodes of the Disney TV classic are included on two new six-disc sets housed in collectible Zorro black, numbered unique tin cases. Both debut Walt Disney Treasures sets are hosted by noted film historian, author and critic Leonard Maltin. Additionally each limited edition, individually numbered volume includes a Zorro pin, an authenticity certificate, exclusive lithograph and comes in a unique, collectible black tin.

From 1957 to 1959, Disney’s Zorro was one of the most popular series on television starring Guy Williams, Henry Calvin, and Gene Sheldon. The show helped transform the literary character Don Diego de la Vega into the ultimate iconic, beloved swashbuckling masked hero of the time. Even if you weren’t alive when Zorro first aired it’s likely you caught it when it was re-aired on the Disney Channel in 1983 and re-colorizing the episodes in the 1990s or any of the other channels it has appeared on over the years. After the series conclusion, the Zorro adventures lived on from 1960 to 1961 on Walt Disney’s Wonderful World of Color in the form of a four-episode anthology series of hour-long Zorro specials, all of which are also included in Walt Disney Treasures Wave IX.

Bonus Features:

Zorro: The Complete First Season

Zorro: El Bandido – Part 1 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland television show (original air date: October 30, 1960)

Zorro: Adios El Cuchillo – Part 2 of a 2-part story shown as a 1-hour-special on the Disneyland television show (original air date: November 6, 1960)

Zorro: The Complete Second Season

Zorro: The Postponed Wedding – A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland television show (original air date: January 1, 1961)

Zorro: Auld Acquaintance – A 1-hour special that originally aired on the Disneyland television show (original air date: April 2, 1961)

As a lifelong Disney fan, I was weened on a digest of Zorro reruns and still get excited when that theme music comes on. If you are raising your own Disney mouselet, you will certainly want to own both of these Zorro DVD sets and introduce them to the masked bandit.

If you follow below the jump, there are some video clips of what you’ll find on the discs.

Mask of Zorro

You Shall Not

Zorro to the Rescue

Just Hay

Because I Think So

Catching Zorro

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Zorro Seasons I & II, now on Walt Disney Treasures DVD
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