PBS KIDS Celebrates Dr. Seuss' Birthday

Beginning next week, Monday March 3, PBS KIDS will be celebrating Dr. Seuss' Birthday with an all-new one-hour THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! special. The party continues all week with half hour episodes where kids will join Cat, Sally and Nick as they explore a variety of animal attributes: from the benefits of crickets’ chirps and birds’ feathers, to the mimic octopus’ remarkable ability to imitate other sea creatures. Viewers also learn how glass is made, how multi-legged creatures walk and how cotton is spun into fabric.



As part of the Cat-ebration, PBS KIDS has also launched a new, mobile-friendly THE CAT IN THE HAT KNOWS A LOT ABOUT THAT! game. “Marbleous Marvel Coaster” allows kids to create their own Seussian rollercoasters using open-ended play and engineering skills and is available at pbskids.org/catinthehat.

BBC America Orphan Black Peek at Season 2

BBC America's Orphan Black is posting sneak peek clips of season 2 on Instagram this week!!! I got a chance to see the first few minutes of the first episode of season 2, at the TV critics press tour in January, and it was just as intense as this clip. Things are definitely not lightening up for our girl.

Orphan Black returns April 19th. If you missed the first season, I'd highly recommend catching up in time for this new season. I still think Tatiana was robbed at the golden globes.

Netflix Pays Comcast

Netflix has signed a deal with Comcast to pay them in exchange for a guarantee that they will have smooth streaming. Is it me or is this what the mob use to call protection money. I can just hear them "Pay up or we'll throttle ya, see." Sadly, it may be a necessary evil and the beginning of the end of net neutrality.

With products like House of Cards and Orange Is The New Black, not to mention all the films and TV shows, you'd think Netflix would have some heavies of their own, in viewership demand. Maybe that all got worked out in negotiations?

The deal gives Netflix direct access to Comcast's broadband network. I'm sure with Comcast just buying Time Warner, Comcast sent their goons over to Netflix and told them to pay up or lose access to their customers.

I may be over dramatizing, but if the spats fit...

Downton Abbey Set Visit and Help The Philippines #DowntonPBS

Omaze raises money for charitable organizations with celebrity prizes. Now they're offering a Downton Abbey set visit to help the Philippine victims of the typhoon through Be The Change. You can buy as many entries as you want or just one for $10. The prize includes airfare and hotel for two in London. You must enter by February 20th, so step on it.

I'd like to get a picture like this one with every cast member. That's probably asking too much, how about just Barrow. I'm pulling for him to turn nice.

Anyway, you should all enter for a chance to win the Omaze  Downton Abbey Set Visit for the Philippines and if you win take me!

Good luck and here's a list of 10 reason to visit the set, from the cast, as if you needed any reasons???

The Monuments Men Opens Friday

The Monument Men opens this Friday. My husband and I were invited to a screening earlier this week and loved it. The film is the true story of art historians who during WWII searched for the masterpieces of Europe that had been stolen by the Nazis. The cast is beyond impressive with George Clooney, Matt Damon, John Goodman, Bill Murray, and Cate Blanchett.

The film is very reminiscent of films of the WWII era. It is witty and action pact without insane special effects or overbearing soundtrack. My husband who usually loves those loud movies, loved this one too, and he can be difficult to please. I will warn you that if you are an art aficionado there are some SAW level disturbing scenes.

Much of the film happens in Belgium where I lived as a teenager in the 80s. I had no idea at the time that I had the men pictured above to thank for the works of art I saw there. They are truly responsible for saving the culture that fills Europe's museums and cathedrals, not to mention returning personal collections to their proper owners.