As Dreamers Do: American Magic Redux

[OldNavy1988]

The Justice League

Released by Columbia Pictures on May 3, 1991.
NOTE: The above image is taken from a fan trailer that was showcased IOTL by Nerdist.

Directed by
Tim Burton

Screenplay by
Sam Hamm
Warren Skaaren
Trina Robbins

Executive Producers
George Lucas
Benjamin Melniker
Michael E. Uslan

Music by
Danny Elfman

Main Cast
Michael Keaton as Bruce Wayne/Batman
Billy Zane as Superman/Clark Kent
Lynda Carter as Diana Prince/Wonder Woman
John Wesley Shipp as Barry Allen/The Flash
Cary Elwes as Oliver Queen/Green Arrow
LeVar Burton as John Stewart/Green Lantern
Demi Moore as Lois Lane
Ilan Mitchell-Smith as Jimmy Olsen
Lane Smith as Perry White
Gene Hackman as Lex Luthor
Michael Gough as Alfred Pennyworth

Notes
Supes was recast as the previous actor Christopher Reeve had quietly retired from the role.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

It was initially announced in the Spring of 1990 that Buena Vista Home Entertainment would take over the TMNT license. Over the summer months after the first TMNT movie hit theatres, a compromise between Mirage, Disney and Carolco was reached. Carolco would retain home video distribution for the TV show while Buena Vista handled the movies. Future TMNT tapes and laserdiscs under Carolco would keep the "handwriting pad" logo of Family Home Entertainment, used by FHE since at least 1985. This summer (1991), all other FHE licensed properties will start using the CGI "paintbrush" logo.

To complicate things a tad further, this compromise was reached about just a few months before Carolco entered merger talks with Grand Diamond.

Without further ado, here's how the opening of the first TMNT movie on VHS looks like in the US ITTL:

The Pizza Hut "Right Field" Commercial

VO (Grant Goodeve): "And now for our feature presentation!"
Music: Great Ovation by Steve Gray

Finally, the film begins with the combined "double fanfare" arranged by John Du Prez.

 

[OldNavy1988]

Star Trek III: The Voyage Home

Released by RKO Radio Pictures on May 24, 1991.

Written and Directed by
Harve Bennett

Music by
James Horner

Star Trek: The Motion Picture theme by
Jerry Goldsmith

Main Cast
William Shatner as Admiral James T. Kirk
Leonard Nimoy as Mr. Spock
George Takei as Mr. Sulu
Walter Koenig as Pavel Chekov
James Doohan as Scotty
Nichelle Nichols as Uhura
DeForest Kelley as Bones
Majel Barrett as Christine Chapel

After nine years and dozens of scripts and story treatments, Star Trek finally returns to the big screen with The Voyage Home. In this film, we are introduced to the El-Aurians and their leader Hadron Mazah (Eddie Murphy), who quickly becomes an ally to the Enterprise crew as they must return to Earth and intercept a "whale probe."

The VHS & Laserdisc release of Star Trek III: The Voyage Home was dedicated to the memory of creator Gene Roddenberry, who passed away just a few months after the film's theatrical run.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Backdraft

Released on May 24, 1991 by Universal Pictures.

Hudson Hawk

Released on May 31, 1991 by TriStar Pictures
ITTL, Because Michael Lehmann, Daniel Waters and Steven E. de Souza were hired to do The Avengers for Fox, Michael Pressman is the director for Hudson Hawk.
Bruce Willis, Shane Black and David Arnott are credited for the story and script.

Thelma and Louise

Released on May 31, 1991 by Turner under the MGM label.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

The long-rumored merger between Grand Diamond and Carolco is complete. Carolco was founded in the late 1970's by Mario Kassar and Andrew Vajna. In 1988, Vajna left Carolco to serve as vice president under Alan Ladd, Jr. at Bally's Hollywood Pictures. Grand Diamond was itself the result of a 1978 merger between Roger Corman's New World Pictures and Samuel Arkoff's American International Pictures.

The next question to ask is who's going to run the studio with the merger completed? Current Grand Diamond executives Ron Perelman and Robert Rheme will now have to tangle with founder Roger Corman and Carolco chairman Mario Kassar for control of the studio.

To facilitate the Carolco/Grand Diamond merger and with the blessing of Mirage Studios, the home video rights to the popular TV series Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, held by Carolco's Family Home Entertainment division, have been sold to Buena Vista Home Entertainment as part of the compromise deal reached last year.
- The Hollywood Reporter

The theatrical teaser for Fox's upcoming Christmas Day blockbuster The Avengers gives moviegoers a first look at Brad Pitt as the new Captain America.
- The Soapbox, a Marvel fanzine

After a measly six episodes airing between September of last year and April of this year, George Liquor on Sky Channel America is still the lowest-rated series in cable history.
- TV Guide

TimeWarner acquires Merv Griffin Enterprises and with it, the popular game shows Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy!.
- Variety

 

[OldNavy1988]

City Slickers

Released by Paramount Pictures on June 7, 1991.

Produced by
Castle Rock Entertainment

Directed by
Ron Underwood

Screenplay by
Lowell Ganz
Babaloo Mandel

Music
Marc Shaiman

Cast
Billy Crystal as Mitch Robbins
Daniel Stern as Phil Berquist
Bruno Kirby as Ed Furillo
Patricia Wettig as Barbara Robbins
Helen Slater as Bonnie Rayburn
Jack Palance as Curly Washburn
Noble Willingham as Clay Stone
Tracey Walter as Cookie
Jeffrey Tambor as Lou
Josh Mostel as Barry Shalowitz
David Paymer as Ira Shalowitz
Bill Henderson as Dr. Ben Jessup
Phill Lewis as Dr. Steve Jessup
Kyle Secor as Jeff
Dean Hallo as T.R.
Karla Tamburrelli as Arlene Berquist
Yeardley Smith as Nancy
Robert Costanzo as Sal Morelli
Walker Brandt as Kim Furillo
Molly McClure as Millie Stone
Jane Alden as Mrs. Green
Lindsay Crystal as Holly Robbins
Jake Gyllenhaal as Danny Robbins
Danielle Harris as Classroom student
Eddie Palmer as Classroom student
Howard Honig as Skycap
Fred Maio as Doctor
Jayne Meadows as the voice of Mitch's mother
Alan Charof as the voice of Mitch's father​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Don't Tell Mom the Babysitter's Dead

Released by Hollywood Pictures on June 7, 1991.

Produced by
HBO Films

Directed by
Stephen Herek

Screenplay by
Neil Landau
Tara Ison

Music by
David Newman

Cast
Christina Applegate as Sue Ellen "Swell" Crandell
Joanna Cassidy as Rose Lindsey
John Getz as Gus Brandon
Keith Coogan as Kenneth "Kenny" Crandell
Josh Charles as Bryan
Concetta Tomei as Mrs. Crandell
David Duchovny as Bruce
Kimmy Robertson as Cathy Henderson
Jayne Brook as Carolyn
Eda Reiss Merin as Mrs. Sturak
Robert Hy Gorman as Walter Crandell
Danielle Harris as Melissa Crandell
Christopher Pettiet as Zach Crandell
Jeff Bollow as Mole
Michael Kopelow as Hellhound
Dan Castellaneta (voice) as Animated Mrs. Sturak​

 

[OldNavy1988]

What, me worry?

Notable MAD Magazine parodies as of 1991
Tales Calculated to Drive You MAD (1952-55)
Superduperman
Bat Boy and Rubin
Ping Pong
Howdy Dooit
Mickey Rodent

MAD Magazine (1955-present)
The Misadventures of Dim-Dim (June 1960; parody of the Famous Studios/Belvision collab of Tintin which aired on ABC in 1959)
Asterisk (June 1969; Parody of Asterix)
Errant Epiphany (March 1970; Parody of the original Karen Sympathy)
Malice in Blunderland (April 1970; Parody of the 1969 version of Alice in Wonderland)
Rancid and Dreadful (April 1972; Parody of the 1971 version of Hansel and Gretel)
Raunchy Dreck (July 1975; Parody of the infamous Nancy Drew animated series)
Star Roars (January 1978)
Messy (August 1979; Parody of Nessie)
Zero Mirth (January 1980; Parody of Xenomorph)
The Empire Strikes Out (February 1981)
Cap'n 'Murica (January 1982)
QT: The Quasi-Territorial (January 1983)
The Creep and the Gobbler (April 1983; Parody of The Thief and the Cobbler)
Uru-Sigh Yecch-sura (January 1984; A parody of Urusei Yatsura complete with Alfred E. Neuman as Ataru on the cover)
Schmuck's Landfill (February 1984; Parody of Huck's Landing)
Muddy Mouse: The New Atrocities (February 1988; Parody of Mighty Mouse: The New Adventures)
Buried with Children (June 1988; Parody of Married...with Children)
Butt Man (August 1989; Parody of the 1989 Batman film)
The Scourge Fibber Program (November 1990; Parody of the Sky Channel America series George Liquor)
Teen Rage Moolah Nitwit Turtles (January 1991; Parody of the 1990 TMNT film)​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Warner Freeform
Formerly CBN Family Channel
(Re)Launched on June 1, 1991 after Pat Robertson sold the network to TimeWarner.

The first programs to air on Warner Freeform were all three of the classic Hunting Trilogy shorts directed by Chuck Jones.

Airing later that evening were The Incredible Mr. Limpet and edited cable prints of Risky Business and Beetlejuice.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

The Media Conglomerates as of 1991

NBC/RKO
National Broadcasting Company
RKO Radio Pictures
RKO Television
NBC/RKO Video
Pre-1970 Desilu TV library
Pre-1959 RKO film library

News Corporation
New York Post
Miramax Films
Miramax Television
Sky Channel America
David the Gnome English dub
The George Liquor Program

Disney Enterprises, Inc.
Walt Disney Pictures
Walt Disney Television
Walt Disney Parks & Resorts
Disney Adventures magazine
The Disney Channel
Walt Disney Television Animation
Grantray-Lawrence
Buena Vista Pictures Distribution
Buena Vista Home Entertainment
Walt Disney Home Video
Fox Video
Playhouse Video
WED Imagineering
Atari, Inc.
Marvel Comics
Harvey Comics
Twentieth Century-Fox
Twentieth Television
Fox Television Network
Video Hits One (VH1)
Pre-1985 Filmways library
Akko-Chan anime franchise
Kimba anime franchise
Candy Candy anime franchise
Urusei Yatsura anime franchise
Ranma 1/2 anime franchise
Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise (75% with Mirage Studios)
Mighty Ducks (NHL; City TBD Coming in 1992 or '93)

The Jim Henson Company
Jim Henson Studios
Touchstone Pictures
Hanna-Barbera
Nickelodeon
Muppets franchise
1979-84 Pinwheel TV series
HA! TV Comedy Network

CBS
CBS Television Network
Columbia Pictures
Columbia Pictures Television
CBS/Columbia Pictures Home Video (will be renamed Columbia-TriStar Home Video in Spring 1992)
Screen Gems
DC Comics
CBS Records
Fleischer-Terry DC cartoons and movies
1966 Batman TV series
1966 Batman movie
TriStar Pictures (50% with MCA)

Amblin Entertainment
Industrial Light and Magic
Skywalker Sound
Fantasound (25% with Disney, Dolby and Sony)
Star Wars film franchise (45% with Disney)
Indiana Jones film franchise (45% with Disney)
Roger Rabbit film franchise (45% with Disney)

NAMCO
Denver Nuggets (NBA) (50% with Coors)
Colorado Rockies (NHL)
Elitch Gardens
Pac-Man video game franchise

Turner Broadcasting System
TBS Superstation
Turner Network Television (TNT)
Cable News Network (CNN)
United Artists
Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer
Pre-1948 Warner Bros. library
Atlanta Braves (MLB)
Atlanta Flames (NHL)
Atlanta Hawks (NBA)
Ruby-Spears
Cartoon Network (Coming in 1992)
Little Lulu franchise

Metromedia
Standard Broadcasting Company
New Line Cinema
New Line Home Video
Pre-1986 Hemdale Film Corporation library
Pre-1991 Vestron library
IceCapades
Harlem Globetrotters
RoboTech anime franchise

MCA
Universal Pictures
MCA/Universal Home Video
Universal Television
MCA/Universal Recreational
Universal Cartoon Studios (Formerly Famous Studios)
MCA Records
Decca Records
Pre-1942 Fleischer Studios library
Pre-1942 Terrytoons library
1942-52 Fleischer-Terry library
Pre-1953 Walter Lantz Productions library
Pre-1967 Kayro-JaM/Revue library
USA Network (50%)
Headline News (50%)
TriStar Pictures (50% with CBS)

Paramount Communications
Paramount Pictures
Paramount Television
Paramount Home Video
Rankin-Bass
Pre-1985 AVCO Embassy library
SEGA
Simon and Schuster
USA Network (50%)
Headline News (50%)

Carolco
Carolco Pictures
Carolco Television
Carolco Home Video
Family Home Entertainment
Pre-1978 New World library
Pre-1978 American International library
Grand Diamond 1978-91 library
Rambo film franchise
Xenomorphs film franchise
Predator film franchise

TimeWarner
Warner Bros. Pictures
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Home Video
Warner Bros. Records
Elektra Records
Atlantic Records
Motown Records
Reprise Records
Warner Pacific Comics
Warner Freeform
Merv Griffin Enterprises
TimeWarner Cable
Money magazine
People magazine
Entertainment Weekly
Time magazine
Life magazine
Sports Illustrated
Fortune
Bop magazine
Big Bopper magazine
Tiger Beat magazine
Encore (Premium Pay-TV service)
Speed Racer anime franchise
Marine Boy anime franchise

Capital Cities/ABC
ABC Television Network
ABC Video Enterprises
ESPN
A&E
Showtime
The Movie Channel
Pre-1990 Lorimar-Telepictures live action television library

Bally's Entertainment
Home Box Office (HBO)
Cinemax
Bally/Midway Manufacturing
Midway Games
Hollywood Pictures
Bally's Theme Parks and Resorts
Hollywood Pictures Home Entertainment
Hi-Tops Video
Comedy Central

 

[OldNavy1988]

@Light_Star 1
Yes, Turner will be able to license some HB stuff from Henson.

Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves

Released on June 14, 1991 by Warner Bros.

Produced by
Morgan Creek

Crew
Same as OTL

Cast
Kevin Costner as Robin of Locksley
Morgan Freeman as Azeem Edin Bashir Al Bakir
Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio as Lady Marian
Christian Slater as Will Scarlett
Alan Rickman as Sheriff of Nottingham
Geraldine McEwan as Mortianna
Michael McShane as Friar Tuck
Brian Blessed as Lord Locksley
Michael Wincott as Guy of Gisborne
Nick Brimble as Little John
Harold Innocent as the Bishop of Hereford
Walter Sparrow as Duncan
Daniel Newman as Wulf
Daniel Peacock as Bull
Jack Wild as Much
Soo Drouet as Fanny
Liam Halligan as Peter Dubois
Michael Goldie as Kenneth
Sean Connery as King Richard (uncredited)

Trivia
- Just like IOTL, a small snippet of the main title music would later be used in Morgan Creek's logo.
- Again like OTL, Disney would reissue their version of Robin Hood on VHS and Laserdisc that same summer with updated cover artwork and coming attractions.
- Turner Home Entertainment did the same with the Errol Flynn version of Robin Hood.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Justice League and Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves are the biggest hits of 1991 so far. I can't wait for The Avengers this Christmas!
- Gene Shalit; The Today Show

The seventh episode of George Liquor finally airs on Sky Channel America two months past the deadline.
- TV Guide

Ray Spum, who has been floundering since Beany and Cecil was taken over by Brad Bird, checks into a sex addiction clinic in Arizona.
- The Hollywood Reporter

Production of Wheel of Fortune and Jeopardy! will move to the Warner Bros. backlot starting in the Spring of 1992.
- Variety

Speed Racer comes to Warner Freeform in July.
- Satellite TV Week

Carolco Home Video will sell entire seasons of The Wonder Years on VHS and Laserdisc through Columbia House later this year.
- Billboard

 

[OldNavy1988]

The Rocketeer

Released by Warner Bros. on June 21, 1991.

Produced by
Silver Pictures

Directed by
Joe Johnston

Screenplay by
Danny Bilson
Paul De Meo

Based on the Pacific Comics character created by
Dave Stevens

Music by
James Horner

Cast
Billy Campbell as Cliff Secord/The Rocketeer
Jennifer Connelly as Jenny Blake
Alan Arkin as A. "Peevy" Peabody
Timothy Dalton as Neville Sinclair
Terry O'Quinn as Howard Hughes
Ed Lauter as Fitch
James Handy as "Wooly" Wolinski
Paul Sorvino as Eddie Valentine
Jon Polito as Otis Bigelow
William Sanderson as Skeets
Margo Martindale as Millie
John Lavachielli as Rusty
Clint Howard as Mark
Melora Hardin as South Seas Singer
Rick Overton as South Seas Patron
Max Grodénchik as Wilmer
Tiny Ron Taylor as Lothar
Eddie Jones as Malcolm
Don Pugsley as Goose
Nada Despotovich as Irma
America Martin as Patsy
Michael Milhoan as Jeff
Daniel O'Shea as Mike
Joe D'Angerio as Stevie
Tommy J. Huff as Lenny
Pat Crawford Brown as Mrs. Pye
Paul DeSouza as Pauly
Gene Daily as Clark Gable
Bob Leeman as W.C. Fields
Julian Barnes as Charlie​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Ratings for Warner Freeform's first month on the air are the highest for any cable network launch.
- Nielsen

Jim Henson's Hanna-Barbera subsidiary has entered licensing talks with Turner. Nickelodeon's shift towards original programming, which begins later this summer, has left HB with fewer time slots to rerun part of its classic library on Nick. Other HB shows have been running on the USA Network's Cartoon Express prior to Henson's purchase of Nick about five years ago. Turner is planning to launch The Cartoon Network for the fall of 1992.
- The New York Times

Screen Gems hires Tiny Toons staffers Bruce Timm and Paul Dini to develop a series to be named later.
- Variety

 

[OldNavy1988]

@Roger Redux
Michelle plays the Black Widow, reprising her role from The Winter Soldier.

Excerpt from Weekend Update on the June 29, 1991 episode of Saturday Night Live.

DENNIS MILLER:
If you thought Bart Simpson was a nuisance to the denizens of Springfield, then you clearly have never watched the George Liquor Program on Sky Channel America. Bart's antics on The Simpsons are relatively tame compared to what awaits you on George Liquor. This past week, Jeep-DeLorean, State Farm Insurance, Southland Corporation (7-Eleven), Kresge Corporation (K-Mart), PepsiCo (Mountain Dew), Blockbuster Video and Ralston Purina have each pulled their advertising from George Liquor amid backlash from the most recent episode, which aired two months past the production deadline.

On the first segment, Slab and Ernie torture a defenseless frog and set fire to a children's hospital. On that same segment, they steal Depend undergarments from "The Billionaire's Daughter," whom critics condemned as a blatant cheap shot at 8-year old Tiffany Disney, whose Asperger's Syndrome diagnosis made headlines two years ago. On the second segment, George Liquor, in an attempt to make sure Jimmy the Idiot Boy "stays straight," lures his non-verbal nephew to a basement where the Bad Catholic Girls; Robyn, Katie and Blair are shown tied up and showing signs of trauma. George tries to encourage Jimmy to do whatever he wants to the girls, but becomes exasperated with Jimmy just standing there doing nothing.

Miramax chairman Harvey Weinstein released a statement in which he fully stood by Kricfalusi and that the other networks wouldn't have given him the creative freedom he enjoys at Sky. And once again, FART declined to comment on the content of the aforementioned George Liquor episode because they were too busy picking fights with Ice Cube.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Terminator 2: Judgment Day

Released by New Line Cinema on July 3, 1991.

Cast & Crew
Same as OTL

T2 opened to overwhelmingly positive reviews from critics who called the sequel superior to its predecessor. Besides the rave reviews, the film would go on to be the biggest box office hit of the summer.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

Mistress Masham's Repose

Released by Walt Disney Pictures on July 12, 1991.

Produced by
Grantray-Lawrence Orlando

Based on the book by
TH White

Directed by
Kirk Wise
Gary Trousdale

Executive Producers
Roy E. Disney
Don Hahn

Screenplay by
Linda Woolverton

Voices
Judith Barsi as Maria
David Ogden Stiers as Mr. Hater
Edie McClurg as Miss Noakes
Pat Carroll as Miss Brown
Sir Richard Attenborough as the Professor
Freddie Starr as the Trapper
Fred Savage as the Silly Kid
Dom DeLuise as Lord Admiral
Graham Chapman as the Schoolmaster

Various Lilliputians
Daniel Abbott
Dan Castellaneta
Yeardley Smith
Townsend Coleman
Pat Fraley
Tress MacNielle
Nancy Cartwright
Kath Soucie
Mary Kay Bergman

Music by
Alan Menken

Song Lyrics by
Howard Ashman

Because of the success New Line was enjoying with Terminator 2: Judgment Day, Mistress Masham's Repose would turn out to be Disney's first real box office defeat since The Black Cauldron in '85. In later years, Repose would gain a cult following on home video and cable. Repose would also be the second to last project that Howard Ashman would see to completion.

When the premiere was held at Hollywood's El Capitan theatre, security was tightened, NOT because of the Gulf War, but because Barsi received a "love letter" from the creator of George Liquor during production.​

 

[OldNavy1988]

One Fine Day in Culver City

Miramax Plaza
Culver City, California

July 15, 1991

Harvey Weinstein
"John, I've stuck behind you through every controversy surrounding George Liquor. But this time, your love letter to Judith Barsi was so horrible, even for me."

John Kricfalusi
"What are you talking about? It's not my fault she's only thirteen! Hell, it's not like you or Rupert are any better than me to begin with!!!"

Weinstein
"That doesn't matter. Here's your walking papers."​

 

[OldNavy1988]

After losing $35 million USD on The George Liquor Program, Miramax's parent company News Corp is putting the 44 acre Culver City backlot, former home of Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer, up for sale.

Potential buyers of the historic lot where The Wizard of Oz and other classics films were produced:
> Mario Kassar and Roger Corman of Carolco Pictures with help from Rochester, NY-based Eastman Kodak.
> RKO Radio Pictures, currently based on Gower and Melrose, next door to Paramount.
> Columbia Pictures, currently based at CBS's Radford Avenue facilities.
> Steven Spielberg, Jeffrey Katzenberg and David Geffen, each of whom are interested in forming a studio together.
> Jim Henson, Michael Eisner and Bernie Brillstein of The Jim Henson Company.
> John Kluge, owner of New Line Cinema, currently based in Santa Monica.

MGM vacated the facility after being sold to Turner Broadcasting in 1981.
- The Los Angeles Times

Jeffrey Katzenberg's abrupt resignation from Universal Studios triggers yet another round of studio musical chairs. Universal and Columbia both bring in experienced studio heads. RKO elected to go in a different direction. Rick McCallum may not ring a bell to most casual moviegoers, but the studio didn't seem to be in the mood for what they deemed a "retread."

Universal
OUT: Jeffrey Katzenberg
IN: George Lucas

Columbia
OUT: George Lucas
IN: Sherry Lansing

RKO Radio Pictures
OUT: Sherry Lansing
IN: Rick McCallum

When asked about the future of the Star Trek franchise, McCallum said a fourth film will proceed for a 1994 release.
- The Hollywood Reporter

 

[OldNavy1988]

Wow! 17 votes. Thanks guys.

STOP THE PRESSES (AS GONZO WOULD SAY)
The legendary backlot that was once home to Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer during the making of The Wizard of Oz has a new buyer! The Jim Henson Company has acquired the 44-acre lot from Miramax Films parent News Corp for a reported $67 Million USD.
- The Hollywood Reporter; August 9, 1991