Bruce Littlefield's Life 101

Dinner Party Talk – Avatar

James Cameron’s #Avatar never seemed like a sure thing – giant blue aliens? 250 million dollar budget?! – but by now it’s obvious that his vision won out. After only two weeks in theaters, Avatar has already grossed over a billion dollars, the fastest any movie in history has done so. It’s become a phenomenon, and rightly so – in glorious 3D, it’s a dazzling experience for (almost) the whole family. Do yourself a favor and go have an Avatar adventure – 3D glasses are more flattering than you think. And it is a movie going experience you will always remember. In the past week, I’ve discussed the movie with an eight year old and an eighty year old. Both cried during the movie. Both said, “It’s the best movie I’ve ever seen.”

Pop Culture Pop-Up – Hee Haw Y’all!

HEE HAW! Some classic American Fun for ’10.
I began performing this little ditty at 4.
“I searched the world over and thought I found true love. You met another and pfft you were gone.” I always managed particularly dramatic pffts.
Yep, kids pick up on pop culture at a young age… What pop culture phenoms are your kids imitating? Please don’t tell me #Snooki.

Pop Culture Pop-Up – Hee Haw!

Thought Hump day needed some classic American Fun…. I began performing this little ditty at 4. “I searched the world over and thought I found true love. You met another and pfft you were gone.” I always managed particularly dramatic pffts. Would a show with that campy goodness make it today? Let me ask my friend Snooki.

Pop Culture Pop-Up – Double Dare

One of my co-guests on my recent appearance on The View was Marc Summers! These days Marc hosts Unwrapped, a brilliant series that shows behind-the-scenes details on all kinds of classic American foods. Back in the day, however, he was known as the host of…Double Dare! Double Dare was a classic Nickelodeon game show that ran from the late eighties to early nineties and is often credited with putting Nickelodeon on the map as the kids’ entertainment behemoth it is today. The show’s formula stayed pretty much the same throughout its several seasons and spinoffs, combining trivia questions with fun (and often hilariously messy!) physical challenges. Like this messiness! What’s your favorite retro game show?

National Fruitcake Toss Day

The Dreaded Fruitcake. Why not toss it?!
In America, the fruitcake has become the laughing stock of Christmas foods. Tonight Show host Johnny Carson might be to blame, as he joked that there is really only one fruitcake in the world, and its just passed from family to family. Carson is no longer alive but the fruitcake lives on.
Each January 3rd is “National Fruitcake Toss Day.” The Manitou Springs Chamber of Commerce in Colorado hosts “The Great Fruitcake Toss,” in which the dried fruit and nut cake is propelled as far as possible like a track and field shot put. A group of eight Boeing engineers hold the all-time Great Fruitcake Toss record at 1,420 feet, achieved with their “Omega 380,” a mock artillery piece fueled by compressed air, pumped by an exercise bike.

Happy New Year!

Wishing you success, happiness, and fun fun fun in twenty-ten!!! And in case you haven’t made a resolution yet…here’s a quote from Benjamin Franklin that I think nicely sums up all resolutions: “Be always at war with your vices, at peace with your neighbors, and let each new year find you a better man.” (or woman!) Here’s to it!

New Year’s Blue Moon

Once in a blue moon on New Year's Eve

Once in a blue moon there is a “#bluemoon” on New Year’s Eve. Party people in the Western Hemisphere will ring in 2010 (a new decade!) beneath a so-called blue moon. According to popular definition, a blue moon is the second full moon in a month (it’s really the 13th of the year). Blue moons occur on New Year’s Eves once every 19 years. The last one was in 1990 and the next one will occur in 2028. And who can think of Blue Moon without a little #Elvis singing the Richard Rodgers and Lorenz Hart classic. Happy New Year’s…may it be stellar fun!

American Oddities – New Year’s Opossum Drop

Brasstown, North Carolina rings in the New Year with the "Opossum Drop." Now, that's a party. WHAT ARE YOU DOING FOR NEW YEAR’S?
How about ringing in the #NewYear with North Carolina’s infamous “Opossum Drop.” Yep, you’ve read correctly. In Brasstown, NC, (on the NC-TN-GA tri-state border) they drop an opossum at midnight*. The happy event takes place at “Clay’s Corner,” the self-proclaimed Opossum Capital of the World, and begins with a blessing and singing of church songs, followed by a ceremony so exciting Dick Clark is considering sending Ryan Seacrest** south! (*Note: I’m told the opossum is not actually “dropped”, it is “lowered with great care” and treated with respect so as “not to inflict any injury or traumatize God’s creature of the night.” **Ryan has asked to remain in NYC.)

Pop Culture Pop-Up

I got all Carol Burnett nostalgic and found her Gong Show appearance. Some days I feel like Eunice on the Gong Show. Remember this classic?! “Lord, Eunice, when are you going to come down out of the clouds and quit acting so goofy?” A girl can dream, can’t she?! What act would you perform if you had to appear on The Gong Show. I suppose The Gong Show, is like the Auntie Mame to “American Idol, which starts January 12th with Ellen sitting in Paula’s chair.

Countdown to New Years

New Year... a new opportunity for fun.

New Year’s Eve FUN.
Here comes a new decade! If you’re in NYC (or want to stream live), I’ll be dropping by the Joan Hamburg radio show on WOR710 radio Monday, Dec. 27th, at 12:15 p.m. when one of my all-time favorites, the fantastic Lis Wiehl sits in at the mic for Joan. We’ll discuss how to have a fun and affordable celebration and set yourself up for a spectacular new year. One idea: write down your resolutions, seal them in an envelope, and open it next year on New Year’s Day to see how you’ve done. Then, write for the following year. Something about facing that envelope, always keeps me on track!