Five stories that have North Texas talking: Did you see the RadioShack Super Bowl ad?; a decision is made on Harold Simmons’ will; an actor with North Texas roots got a Razzie; and more.
Forget the Seattle Seahawks -- Fort Worth-based RadioShack might be the ultimate winner for its Super Bowl spot. In the commercial, a RadioShack worker picks up the phone. Another worker wonders what’s going on. “The ‘80s called,” the worker said. “They want their store back.” Suddenly, ‘80s-era stars – including Mary Lou Retton, ALF, Hulk Hogan, John Ratzenberger from "Cheers," Erik Estrada from "CHiPs," Dee Snider and many others – march into the store, ransacking the shelves of their ‘80s-era goodies, including boom boxes and – eek! -- VCRs. Oh, and there’s a Delorean. The tune that’s playing: “Everybody’s Working for the Weekend,” the early-‘80s hit. The reviews are in and the reviews are good: CNN declared that “Bruno Mars and RadioShack bail out a lame Super Bowl.” The Wall Street Journal said RadioShack was one of the winners of the Ad Bowl. Time magazine says: “A 93-year-old electronics retailer admits that it's been out of touch with the times.” Company officials say the commercial is a way to address shoppers’ attitudes that the store is out-of-date and out of touch.
Here’s the 30-second version:
Here’s the minute-long version:
Here’s a behind-the-scenes look …
- Speaking of Super Bowl commercials with North Texas ties, did you see that Maserati commercial? It was directed by Richardson native David Gordon Green, who’s directed “Pineapple Express,” among other films. Slate described the commercial, which featured child actress Quvenzhane Wallis: “Her lofty monologue delivers a series of vague sentiments over epic visuals of tornados, fires, and wheeling flocks of starlings. ‘We were small but fast,’ she says. ‘Being clever was more important than being the biggest kid in the neighborhood.’ We see welders. Ballerinas. I am thoroughly confused. … Then at last the reveal: the Maserati Ghibli, an Italian sedan that costs almost $70,000. I question the wisdom of using a Super Bowl spot to introduce a car that will be affordable to a tiny sliver of the audience.” Here's the commercial:
- Texas billionaire Harold Simmons' will leaves the bulk of his estate to his widow, with no listed contributions to any political groups or charities. A Dallas judge on Monday ordered a redacted version of Simmons' will to be released. Attorneys for Simmons’ widow had argued that the will should have been sealed. Harold Simmons, who died in late December, bankrolled several political campaigns and gave hundreds of millions of dollars to charities. Probate Judge Michael E. Miller blanked out most names in the 44-page will, which was signed about three weeks before Simmons died, The Dallas Morning News reported. “Annette Simmons is named as the estate’s executor and also receives their primary residence, a California vacation house, ranches in Collin County and Franklin County, Arkansas, and a suite at AT&T Stadium in Arlington,” the News reported. The will does not list a total dollar value of the estate. “But it does use the figure of $444 million for the purposes of calculating how it would be divided if Annette Simmons had not survived her husband.” [The Associated Press]
- The Dallas Architecture Forum’s 2014 Panel Discussion Series continues Tuesday night with Catherine Gavin, editor of Texas Architect magazine, moderating “Revitalizing Flood Plains as Public Spaces.” The panel features experts who are rethinking the role of flood plains in urban areas. Among the projects to be discussed: plans for Austin’s Waller Creek; the Trinity River in Fort Worth and Dallas; and the San Antonio River, which all aspire to redevelop flood plains as active public spaces. The panel is free and will be held at 1909 Woodall Rogers Frwy, Suite 100, Dallas. It starts at 6:30 pm, with an informal reception at 6:15 pm. No reservations required.
- We’re just a few weeks away from the Oscars – and the Razzies, too. Grand Prairie’s very own Selena Gomez has been nominated for a Razzie, which honors the worst in film. She earned a Razzie nomination for worst actress. Billboard reports: “Gomez, the former Disney Channel actress, secured a film role in last year's action flick ‘Getaway,’ starring Ethan Hawke and Jon Voight. The film was panned, receiving an approval rating of 2 percent at Rotten Tomatoes.” Her competition includes Halle Berry, Lindsay Lohan, Naomi Watts and … Tyler Perry (in ‘A Madea Christmas.’) Razzie says on its Facebook page: “The $4.97 gold spray-painted Razzie Award is handed out to otherwise great talent who dropped the ball. The Razzie is an opportunity to ‘own your bad.’” Winners will be announced March 1, on the eve of the Oscars.
