'Girl Meets World': An Automatic Marketing Winner

I was very cautious going into my first episode of 'Girl Meets World,' Disney's new (as of 2014) spin-off of the popular 90s ABC sitcom 'Boy Meets World.' I, probably like you, followed the life and love story of Cory Matthews and his girlfriend (later wife) Topanga, and fell deeply in love with best friend-sidekick Shaun Hunter.

'Girl Meets World' takes place more than a decade later. Cory and Topanga's daughter, Riley, is trying to navigate her tween years -- and problems that go with them -- especially in regard to bonds with family and friends. At John Quincy Adams Middle School in Manhattan, Riley finds being a student more difficult because her dad is a history teacher there, and she's in his class. Her mom, a lawyer, is involved in her social life and owns a trendy teen hangout. Among Riley's classmates are best friend Maya (who reminds us oh so much of Cory's childhood bestie Shaun), crush Lucas, and quirky Farkle (son of Cory and Topanga's classmate Stuart Minkus).

You can see why I was nervous. 'Girl Meets World' had (and still has) some big shoes to fill, with its predecessor having a seven season run. But I had to watch it. I mean, they got Ben Savage and Danielle Fischer to reprise their roles as Cory and Topanga. So I watched the pilot. Then I watched the next one. Then I binged the entire season.

Whether you're a fan of 'Boy Meets World' or not, 'Girl Meets World' is important and I'll tell you why. I haven't watched a show on Disney Channel by choice in years, but I had to watch this one. 'Boy Meets World' ran from 1993-2000 and a lot of their fans are now parents. As a generation of new parents watch characters they watched as teens become parents themselves, Disney is perfectly targeting adults and teens with this new show.

Not to mention, we're all guilty of claiming the children's programming back in our day was way better than the crap they make nowadays. Well now the youth of America is experiencing the brilliance of Mr. Feeny and his lessons. Only this time it's Cory giving the lesson, not Feeny. Just imagine how satifying that must be for those parents. 'Boy Meets World' was a genius franchise to build on. You can watch season 1 of 'Girl Meets World' on Netflix.

High School Musical Brought Back the Musical Movie

I remember waiting anxiously for High School Musical to premiere on Disney Channel in 2006. It was not a very highly anticipated movie because it was "just another DCOM." However, this movie's fame blew up immensely as soon as it came out and paved the way for musical movies to come back into the scene.

After this movie was released, it became very popular for Broadway musicals to create movies, such as Hairspray or Mamma Mia!. Also, Disney Channel tried to follow up with musicals that were not nearly as popular but still in the limelight, like Camp Rock or Starstruck. High School Musical was a very large part of my childhood that I will never forget. I am obsessed with musical theatre and this just gave me a new genre to fangirl over. It became popular again for teenagers to listen to musical theatre and I finally wasn't THAT big of a loser anymore.

High School Musical was a phenomenon and  released two more movies after the first, with the third hitting the big screen. I will alwayys remember how sad I was at the end of the third movie, because it felt like a significant part of me was over. High School Musical made stars out of many people such as Zac Efron, Vanessa Hudgens, or Ashley Tisdale. It brought new talent to the screen and was a hit of its time. I still love High School Musical and appreciate all that it has done for the musical theatre movie world.

Full House Is COMING BACK?!?!

Last night on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, John Stamos confirmed the rumors that have been swirling around Hollywood for a while now: FULL HOUSE IS RETURNING. Calling all 90's kids, this is a dream come true. Uncle Jesse will be producing the 13 episode new comedy that Netflix has just picked up, and the series will be starting with an hour long premiere!!

The new series will be called Fuller House and will focus on the lives of DJ, Stephanie and Kimmy Gibbler, with Uncle Jesse appearing for a few guest spots. Netflix has been talking to other stars of the show, to see if they would be interested in being guest stars as well. I sure hope so, because I can't imagine the house with Danny, Uncle Joey, or Michelle. I am hoping that this new show, premiering in 2016, will be able to keep up the same hype that it received back in the 80s and 90s. Full House was a largely loved show, and I do not want this new series to disappoint. Sometimes, spinoff shows are not the best, such as Girl Meets World, spinoff of one of my favorite shows, Boy Meets World. However, I believe that since Netflix picked it up instead of Nickelodeon, or the Disney Channel, the show has so much more potential. I will definitely be tuning in and can't wait to see one of my favorite families take the screen together again.

Smart Things

     Ever see the Disney Chanel movie Smart house and think wow I wish my home could be like that. . . without the robot "Mom" wanting to keep you hostage. Well Smart Things is a pretty cool bit of technology that allows you to completely automate your home and can make it almost as cool as Smart house. You can use your cellphone to talk to your home and have your home talk back to you by using some of the devices that come with the smart things package. Your home will know when you wake up which will tell your home to turn on lights, start making coffee and could set your temperature. Here is a video showing a demo house with smart things technology in it.

     Although it does sound pretty neat smart things is pretty creepy at the same time. Having you home making your life easier could be nice, but having it know so much about you an your family makes me uncomfortable. Also if you want to completely automate your house it could start to get pretty expensive. The starter pack is $200 and comes with some cool stuff to get you, well started. But the more you want your house to do the more you have to pay. 

It's That Time of Year Again...

Halloween is one of my favorite times of year. The Halloween cult classic movies that surround this time are the movies I look forward to all year. One of the first Halloween movies I remember falling in love with was Hocus Pocus.

This movie has everything, a girl named Dani, who I just wanted to be, a creepy fairytale come true, and and adorable cat, Thackery Binx...you can't get much better than that. Bette Midler plays the crazy, evil, Winnie Sanderson, with Sarah Jessica Parker playing the almost loveable Sarah Sanderson. The sisters are insane, as is the story line in general, but you can't help but love the movie. It doesn't hurt that every viewing is a teaspoon full of nostalgia.

As I got a bit older I discovered the terrifically crappy Halloweentown movies that would air on the Disney Channel every year.

The original movie spawned equally crappy sequels, but every one has some quality of catchyness you can't ignore. Even still, I get some strange pleasure out of watching the reruns when it airs. The theme song is catchy as hell as well, and will no doubt be stuck in your head for a few weeks afterwards, easily carrying you into christmastime jingles.

The final Halloween movie that's made its way into my yearly Halloween line-up is Rocky Horror Picture Show.

For the few of you who don't know, the movie was made in '75 and has become one of the largest cult movies to date, with one of the biggest followings. The movie itself is nearly impossible to describe, and the live-action showings that surround it are even harder to describe, but I can definitely say I anxiously await the showings every year.

Obviously this isn't a complete list of all the great Halloween movies that have ever been made, nor is it even close, but these three are a few that I grew up with and remind me of cozy nights and warm apple cider...and those are the best nights.