c-computerkid

I wanted to like "The 7D." I really did. However, I couldn't make it through the first episode. And that's really a shame, given the concept wasn't bad.

Basically, "The 7D" is a modern take on the classic characters from "Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs." The queen (voiced by Good Luck Charlie's Leigh-Allyn Baker) calls them whenever her kingdom is in trouble. The whole premise sounds really cute on paper. In addition, the rest of the cast reads like the 90s animation hall of fame: Maurice Lamarche (The Brain from Animaniacs), Bill Farmer (Goofy), Dee Bradley Baker (from various cartoons), Jess Harnell (Wakko Warner), and Billy West (Philip Fry, Futurama). The 7D was even written by Paul Ruegger, director and writer for Tiny Toons or Animaniacs.

Even though it didn't get rave reviews from the IMDb community, I thought with this much talent, "The 7D" couldn't be that bad. Sadly, I was mistaken. "The 7D" flops right from the start. The theme song is cheesy and annoying and the villains are bland. What's worse, the writing is incredibly flat. For example. a major plot point of the opening episode centers on the two villains taking over the queen's kingdom. They make "kissing noises" on her throne (no kissing, as this a G-rated show. You wonder why they even suggested it.). Anyway, later when the queen calls the dwarfs in, she tells them about the "kissing noises." The dwarfs repeatedly ask "kissing noises?" to which the queen replies "I know, right?". This happens literally ten times in the episode. That's simply lazy.

To make matters even worse, the characters are simply ugly to look at.

All in all, "The 7D" is a disappointing program. It's shocking something like this airs on the same channel as the brilliant "Gravity Falls." I would normally give a show of this quality a three, but with the talent involved, it has to be a one. Do yourself a favor and skip "The 7D." Its cast may get it compared to Animaniacs, but the two shows are nothing alike. Animaniacs is often quite funny, while The 7D never is.

I'll admit that I'm not much for romantic movies. In my opinion, many of them are overly sentimental and annoyingly predictable. But this gem from Disney truly stands out from the crowd of Hollywood's mediocre love stories.

The story seems a bit trite. Good girl meets bad boy, girl doesn't like boy at first, they fall in love, the end. Lady and the Tramp's plot isn't original, but the execution is stunning. The two leads play off each other wonderfully, as both teach the other about the other side of the fence. Honestly, Tramp actually ranks among Disney's best male leads for me. He's certainly more developed than 50s counterparts Prince Charming Philip (though that's not saying a lot). And his bad boy persona seems to have influenced Dodger (Oliver and Company) and Flynn (Tangled),even though those films came out years later. Lady isn't as outstanding as Tramp, but she's a decent enough female lead and she looks adorable with him.

Because of a surprisingly diverse soundtrack (ranging from the wicked "Siamese Cat Song" to the touching "Bella Notte"), joyously colorful animation, and excellent characters (including supporting cast Jock and Trusty), Lady and the Tramp is not one to be missed. It's romance done right.

The Andy Griffith Show is widely considered one of the best sitcoms of all time, a "classic." But while many so-called classics don't hold up after several decades, The Andy Griffith Show certainly survives. With its simple but memorable theme song, it'd be surprising if it didn't.

The series focuses on the life on Mayberry Sheriff Andy Taylor (Griffith) who raises his son Opie (Ronny Howard) as a single father. To help him with housekeeping, he calls upon Aunt Bee (Francis Bavier). Meanwhile, Andy deals with criminals and everyday problems of Mayberry's citizens. Wild deputy Barney Fife (Don Knotts) and spaced-out barber Floyd (Howard McNear) also tag along.

Too many sitcoms of the 60s suffer from hackneyed, uninspired writing. That's simply not the case with TAGS. In fact, one could rightly call the show the first character-based sitcom in television history; that is, to understand the humor you have to understand the characters.

The production values here are excellent: the simple sets work flawlessly, character development is prioritized, and the acting is usually spot-on. Best of all, TAGS is wholesome without feeling forced or mawkish--something I can't say for others like Leave It to Beaver or Father Knows Best.

Throughout the first five seasons, comedy is effortlessly balanced with drama in a way I've only seen a few sitcoms accomplish. The blend is, like good coffee for coffee lovers, truly addictive.

There are a few flaws here, especially after Barney leaves in season 5. The show loses its comedic flair, and it appears the writers were trying to find a Barney replacement. We suffered through the hopelessly bland Howard Sprague, annoyingly clingy Warren, and frustratingly limited Gomer Pyle, who somehow did enough to warrant his own spin-off. And I do feel the writers had Opie grow up too fast, dating girls at just 13 (though certainly Disney Channel and Nickelodeon have done worse).

Even with these flaws, it's hard to imagine too many 60s series better than TAGS. It's among the best depictions of American rural life and holds up surprisingly well.