Attention San Diego Families - Do Your Kids Want to Audition for Disney's Win, Lose or Draw?

I received this wonderful announcement from Disney Channel. For those of you with teens, it's sounds like great fun to even audition! What a fun experience to have (and a great story to tell when school is back in session)!

Here's the official announcement:

Disney Channel announces the ultimate contestant search throughout Southern California for kids ages 11-17 to compete in Disney Channel's new game show "Disney's Win, Lose or Draw,". Aspiring kid contestants in teams of two who have a flair for comedy, like to  draw, and are great at solving clues, are invited to try out for an opportunity to compete alongside some of their favorite Disney stars for prizes.

"Disney's Win, Lose or Draw," the latest edition of the classic game show, will be powered by leading edge technology, motion control, interactive multi-touch screen displays and graphic technology with an interjection of comedic physical challenges. Each show will feature two teams each composed of two kid contestants and a Disney star, competing in a battle of drawing skills, creativity and wits. Engaging entertainer and TV personality Justin Willman (host of "Cupcake Wars") is set to host.
     
Kids will be required to try out in teams of two and are encouraged to partner with a friend, sibling or cousin; both teammates must be present at the time of the audition and accompanied by a parent or legal guardian. There is never any fee to try out for Disney Channel and there are no guarantees of being selected as a contestant for the show. Additional information is available at www.winloseordrawcasting.com.
    
"Disney's Win, Lose or Draw" contestant search will take place in the following locations:

* SUNDAY, JUNE 16 at Lucky Strike Hollywood at 6801 Hollywood Blvd, Hollywood, CA 90028, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

* SATURDAY, JUNE 22 at Boomers Irvine at 3405 Michelson Drive Irvine, CA 92612, from 11:00 a.m. - 4:00 p.m.

* SATURDAY, JUNE 29 at Boomers San Diego at 6999 Clairemont Mesa Blvd., San Diego, CA 92111, from 11:00 a.m. - 3:00 p.m.

Disney Channel Welcomes "Girl Meets World" in 2014

 

Disney Channel has ordered "Girl Meets World," a comedy series for kids and families from executive producer Michael Jacobs ("Boy Meets World").  Starring are 11-year-old Rowan Blanchard ("Spy Kids All the Time in World in 4D") as the girl -- Riley Matthews -- 14-year-old Sabrina Carpenter ("Sofia the First" voice cast and a newly signed Hollywood Records recording artist) as her best friend Maya, and Danielle Fishel and Ben Savage reprising the "Cory and Topanga" roles they made famous in ABC's hugely popular sitcom "Boy Meets World" (1993-2000).

I watched the original "Boy Meets World" and am excited to see this version of it come to television. We will follow all the actors, news and updates and bring you the latest as we have it.

Photo courtesy of Disney Channel.

My Not-Completely-Unfounded Fears About The Lone Ranger

After watching Man of Steel a few days ago, I became concerned that a new trend was emerging.  It's really hard to mess up a storyline that is already so well-known and essentially written for you, yet they managed to make Man of Steel so violent and action-packed that the heart of the movie (the story) suffered. That got me thinking - I fear that producers will make the same mistake with the Lone Ranger. I have discussed here often how excited I am to see the Disney remake starring Johnny Depp and Armie Hammer. It's one of my favorite stories and is extremely meaningful to me because of my grandfather's love for the series. I feel as if its my duty, my privilege to pass the torch to my sons and am thrilled that they finally get their introduction to the masked, ex-Texas Ranger this summer. But what if Disney makes the same mistake as Warner Brothers? What if the whole movie is just one large CGI animated fight scene? What if Ranger Reid's heart and character (as created by Fran Striker) is lost along the way?

For those of you not familiar with the series or story, the Lone Ranger was a man of principle and ideals. He lived his life by the following creed:

I believe...

• that to have a friend, a man must be one.

• that all men are created equal and that everyone has within himself the power to make this a better world.

• that God put the firewood there, but that every man must gather and light it himself.

• in being prepared physically, mentally, and morally to fight when necessary for that which is right.

• that a man should make the most of what equipment he has.

• that 'this government of the people, by the people, and for the people' shall live always.

• that men should live by the rule of what is best for the greatest number.

• that sooner or later...somewhere...somehow...we must settle with the world and make payment for what we have taken.

• that all things change but truth, and that truth alone, lives on forever.

• in my Creator, my country, my fellow man.

This is the Lone Ranger I want my sons to meet on July 3, 2013 when it comes to theaters nation-wide. This is the man I hope Disney portrayed and that the movie will fill the void that the Man of Steel has left in my heart.

Those of us that are still idealists, that believe in fairy tales, that love of our country and believe there is still hope in the world still exist. Disney, don't make movies for the cynic. After all, you've made your fortune off people like me that believe in '...happily ever after'.

Here's hoping!

Meanwhile, here's a newly released featurette with a behind the scenes glimpse into the making of the Lone Ranger. Enjoy!

“Like” THE LONE RANGER on Facebook: www.facebook.com/theloneranger

 "Follow" THE LONE RANGER on Twitter: https://twitter.com/disneypictures  

 Visit THE LONE RANGER website: www.disney.com/theloneranger

 

HE'S A MILITARY SON! God Forgive You, Racists!

I read something today that broke my heart. I don't ever take the news too seriously but this REALLY upset me. My husband says that because I'm more of a travel 'journalist' than a blogger, it's expected for me to keep my personal opinions (other than those travel related) to myself so that it doesn't affect my 'business' but this is my personal family blog.  If you don't want to hear my opinion, then thank you for stopping by but please leave.

Now for what upset me.

I'm a huge San Antonio Spurs fan! Huge! I'm from South Texas and was living in San Antonio during their first NBA Championship win in 1997. Last night, I was watching my team play game three in San Antonio and was excited to see who would sing the National Anthem. To be honest, I thought we'd show off with George Strait or Cheryl Crow or another proud Texan, but instead a little boy I'd never seen before sang his little heart out as I listened with pride. He was dressed as a Mexican charro, something a native Texan wouldn't even blink at. To be honest, I hadn't even thought about it until I read the reviews today. This is where I get upset.

Today, someone compiled this from the 'fuss' some people made on Twitter last night:

http://publicshaming.tumblr.com/post/52763976629/racist-basketball-fans-pissed-a-mexican-american-boy

Now, I like to think of myself as an educated person in touch with the pulse of society, but I must live in a rose-colored bubble because I would have NEVER expected for some of my fellow Americans to react this way.  I thought racism only existed in old white men that wore hoods over their head. But if you look closely at the people that made the comments, many were African American, Italian or other ethnicities. Are my people the new, popular, hip-to-make-fun-of minority? That's right, I said 'my people' because I too am a Mexican American. I was born and bred in Texas by Texas born parents, but my lineage is from Mexico. My paternal grandparents were from a small town outside of Monterrey, Nuevo Leon, Mexico called Milpas.   I'm third generation Texan on my mother's side, but prior to that my French ancestors moved to Mexico, bought land and married locals before moving to what we know today to be Texas.

But me relating to him as a Hispanic is not why this touched me so deeply. It affected me because he was born and raised in Texas in an active-duty military family stationed there. He's a military son, people! His father fought/fights for the right those idiots have on Twitter to make fun of him! Talk about irony.

I married into the name 'Vest' but I hyphenated my last name not to be 'cool' like Hilary Rodham-Clinton, but because I always want my children to know that their light-skinned, well-spoken, no-accent, well-educated mother is proud of her Hispanic heritage.

If I could speak to that boy today, I would tell him to hold his head up high and ignore ignorant people. He is more American than they are because red, white and blue flows through his veins because of his father's and his family's sacrifice for our country. There will always be stupid people, there will always be jealousy, there will always be bullies, but last night he sang for the world. He did a great job and centuries of his ancestors cheered him on from heaven last night. He represented Texas well and as a Texan, I thank him for his courage and his talent. He has his whole life ahead of him. Opportunities will be aplenty. As for the racists, the haters...well, I grin a little because if I am THIS UPSET, I can only imagine how upset God is.  #Justsaying