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Hello Dear Readers! The red, white, & blue banners are up, the 4th of July menu is planned, and the Tivo is set to record 1776 (a must-see musical every July 4th). Now all that’s left is waiting for the fireworks. So while we’re waiting, let’s take a look at this week’s Pressing Matters:

Muppet Music • Twisted Shorts • The End Is Nigh • Captain America,
Super Soldiers & You • Olszewski at Disneyland • This Week’s Geek

Is anyone out there as excited as I am that a new Muppet movie is on the horizon? The plot of the new film finds the Muppets all gone their separate ways: Fozzie now performs with a Reno casino tribute band called the Moopets, Miss Piggy is a plus-size fashion editor at Vogue Paris, Animal is in a Santa Barbara clinic for anger management, and Gonzo is a high-powered plumbing magnate. But ... you know they will all get back together and madness & mayhem will ensue.

Though the film is set to open November 23rd, you won’t have to wait till the fall for some new Muppet music, as Walt Disney Records has announced an album will be released this summer:

It just got a whole lot easier being green. Walt Disney Records is set to release Muppets: The Green Album, a musical tribute to the world's much-loved Muppets, featuring 12 fan favorite songs reinterpreted by bands such as OK Go, Weezer, The Fray, Alkaline Trio, My Morning Jacket, as well as solo artists like Andrew Bird, Matt Nathanson and Amy Lee. Muppets: The Green Album will be released on August 23rd.

Muppets: The Green Album is now available for pre-order from major online retailers.


I’m not real big on summer. As soon as July hits, I can’t help myself, my mind starts wandering off toward fall, pumpkins, Halloween! And that’s where our next Pressing Matter takes us — "Halloween Horror Nights" Short Film Competition. Horror fans get out your cameras and take your best shot at making a horror short, you very well could be the winner of a nifty prize:

Universal Studios Hollywood invites aspiring filmmakers to compete in its annual "Halloween Horror Nights" short film competition, offering budding directors an opportunity to have their most disturbing horror short films judged by a panel of industry insiders, including horror film auteur Eli Roth, Daily Variety senior writer, Marc Graser and "Halloween Horror Nights" Creative Director John Murdy.  The winning film will be awarded a premiere showing on Chiller, a posting on Syfy.com, a cash prize of $1,000, and a trip for two to "Halloween Horror Nights'" opening night "Eyegore Awards" at Universal Studios Hollywood.

Contest entries will be accepted from June 27 through August 1, 2011. Entries must be sent to: "Halloween Horror Nights" Short Film Competition, 100 Universal City Plaza, Building 5511-5, Universal City, CA 91608. For more information, including all the contest rules, visit this link.


My friends are all planning on attending a midnight screening of the final Harry Potter film, Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2. But me? I am disinclined to join in. I know it’s only a matter of hours, but I really don’t want to hasten the end of Harry Potter any more than need be. I can’t imagine what it must have been like for all the actors involved, filming those last scenes, I mean.

This coming July 15th marks the end of an era and in anticipation of that, I thought it might be nice to take another look at a video from last November. The LA Times Hero Complex’s Geoff Boucher talks with actor Tom Felton (Draco Malfoy) as they walk amongst Potter props at the Warner Brothers Studio and Tom remembers what being part of such an iconic series was like for him.

Coming back to a 4th of July theme, well, more of a patriotism theme I guess, we’re going to talk about Captain America and Dunkin' Donuts/Baskin-Robbins search for "America's Super-Soldiers." They want America’s help to identify and honor the unsung heroes whose service has had a significant impact in local communities throughout our country:

Beginning today through July 15, 2011, fans can visit Dunkin' Donuts' or Baskin-Robbins' official Facebook pages to nominate a veteran or active serviceperson, answering short questions about why their Super-Soldier is making a difference in their hometown and/or the communities in which they serve. The grand prize winner will win a cash prize of $5,000, a new high-definition television, a new Blu-Ray DVD player and a selection of DVD movies in which Dunkin' Donuts and Baskin-Robbins products are featured.

In my opinion, every person serving in the US military is a Super Soldier, so how it will be narrowed down to just one, is beyond me. To nominate your favorite soldier (after supplying your pertinent information, you must write a short essay detailing why your nominee is super), visit their Facebook page.

And now, for something completely different, let’s talk about an upcoming merchandise release and signing at Disneyland. There’s always something special being sold at the happiest place on earth on the 17th of July and this year, artist Robert Olszewski will be on hand to debut his latest miniature:

Join us as we welcome miniaturist, Robert Olszewski on Sunday, July 17, 2011 from 9:00 AM to 11:00 AM for a special appearance and signing of his latest piece - Main Street Electrical Parade Set #4. This set consists of the Blue Fairy, Hippo, Organ with Richard the Lion, Circus Bear and the Circus Elephant.

Robert will be appearing at the Disneyana Shop on Main Street in Disneyland where the sculpture will be available for $125, plus tax. For more information, visit this link.


Lastly, I thought we’d have a look-see at this week’s edition of The Disney Geek, in which Jeffrey takes a look at Cars 2’s opening performance, recaps the Rocketeer event at El Capitan, announces dates for Sip and Stroll & Magic and Merriment, fills us in on Candlelight narrators for Walt Disney World (What? Not Disneyland?), and winds it up with a brief look inside the Disneyland Hotel’s Adventureland Suite (Would that I had the $$$ to stay there, it’s pretty fabulous).

Okay, that’ll do it for this week. I’ll see you after the 4th — have a star-spangled holiday!


Want to know what I’m up to? Then you need to follow Pressing Matters on Twitter. You never know what you’ll find there — food, museums, shopping, Disneyland!

Follow me along as I search for the all the latest Pressing Matters & tweet about what I find:

If you'd like to submit something to be considered for the column, please send it to both Sue and Al at the following email addresses: [email protected] and [email protected] with the words "Pressing Matters" in the subject line. Due to our already extensive email loads we won't be able to acknowledge each submission, but those under consideration may get a note from us asking for more details. Representatives from the items chosen are invited to answer questions from readers at the forum linked at the end of each column.

FTC-Mandated Disclosure: As of December 2009, bloggers are required by the Federal Trade Commission to disclose payments and freebies. Sue Kruse and Al Lutz did not receive any payments, free items, or free services from any of the parties discussed in this article. They pay for their own admission to theme parks and their associated events, unless otherwise explicitly noted.


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© 2011 Sue Kruse

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