TheArchive: Reviewing the Rare, Retro, and Restored

Let's take a break from cold world events as we long for a little summer warmth.... Four years before the the series debut of nearly the same title starring Will Smith (now a ubiquitously marketed Peacock remake of their own), and a year before starring together in the cult hit Summer School , Mark Harmon and Kirstie Alley showed their romantic comedy chemistry in this week's remake spotlight and little known 80s classic called  Prince of Bel-Air .  Mark Harmon’s perfect life gets better when he meets Kirstie Alley  a preppy artist who catches Harmon’s eye, much to the chagrin of her wealthy uncle, who is his pseudo-mentor cum benefactor.  He blackmails Harmon into breaking off the relationship or else he’ll cut off all financial support and break their business partnership.  The interesting piece of nostalgia about this movie is that it clearly inspired  Summer School!  Mark Harmon, Kirstie Alley, Patrick Labyorteaux , and Dean Camron all play t...

This post was originally published on (2/15/21) and updated on (2/21/22) . On the eve of some unpredictable tensions across the world, this President’s day TheArchive honors the Presidents who have led our country through conflict. Some have guided us past it while others caused it.   Either way, it’s challenging at the top, especially as we see President Biden navigate some very provocative leadership moments this week.  These stories of leadership have carved their way into our zeitgeist as they help to inform how our future can and may be shaped. In Ronald Reagan, The Hollywood Years, and Ronald Reagan, the Presidential Years , we track Reagan’s rise to power and his brush with the kind of conflict he could rise above. From that iconic moment on stage with Goldwater in 1964, to his governorship shortly thereafter, to his presidency, Reagan is celebrated as one of the most popular presidents of our time. But we also learn that the Iran-Contra affair certainly led to some ...

This post was originally published on (7/22/21) and updated on (2/15/22) . What better way to celebrate the 2022 Winter Olympic Games than with a deep cut absolutely worth every inappropriate, animated moment.  Allow us to introduce... Animalympics . In this "animalated" film, critters from all around the world gather to stage and compete in their own Olympic games, which feature a variety of summer and winter sporting events. It's super funny and totally bizarre - especially the Winter games. Snow doubt about it. The film also represents a piece of cinematic history. Animalympics was commissioned by NBC in 1978 as a couple of specials to run parallel to the 1980 Winter Olympics and the Summer Olympics in Moscow. But following the Soviet invasion of Afghanistan, Jimmy Carter boycotted the Moscow Summer Olympics and NBC shelved the coverage and the Animalympics special which did not rear its head again until July 4, 1982. Now as we face down another "cold war" ...

  Remember this football hero on the right?                                 Of course that's convicted thief of his own possessions OJ, and that image is from his star turn in HBO's classic pre- Ballers series 1st and Ten. Let's not even go there. Instead we will go there with another cancelled celeb - Roseanne. She happens to have played some football herself. Ever heard of Backfield in Motion ? Roseanne and her teenage son played by Johnny Galecki (was he cancelled? Who can keep up) move to a small town where football reigns supreme. When Roseanne's son joins the JV team, she organizes a mothers vs. sons football game. Hilarity ensues. Especially because, you guessed it, Tom Arnold has a lead role as well! Roseanne and Tom at it again! Up for some classic TheArchive football hijinks before the big game ? Line up for Backfield in Motion only on TheArchive . TheArchive ...

     This post was originally published on (9/7/21) and updated on (2/10/22) . Why not both? With the Rams favored to handily overtake the Bengals, why not get into some classic football hijinks from TheArchive ? Super Bowl Sunday is a lot of fun, especially as we anticipate the sheer insanity of Los Angelenos as they celebrate the victory. So keep the fun going with the 1980s HBO throwback land O.J. Simpson starrer, 1st & Ten . However the Rams-Bengals matchup plays out, there’s 80 episodes of OJ slicing and dicing his way through jokes and jocks. So punt whatever else your binging and get down with 1st & Ten ! HBO has long been ahead of its time featuring the antics of American Football on and off the field. Before Dwayne "The Rock" Johnson’s star turn in HBO’s Ballers or the hard-hitting docuseries Hard Knocks , 1st & Ten had its own run with the sport and its players. Funny enough, if you're a fan of Apple’s Ted Lasso , you may also recognize ...

This Black History Month we are leaning in to the culture creators, barrier breakers, and milestone makers who have changed our world.  From Muhammad Ali to Natalie Cole, Dorothy Dandridge to Jimi Hendrix, MLK to Harriet Tubman, TheArchive  features some of the world's greatest and most inspiring luminaries and leaders of any time or place. Dorothy Dandridge: An American Beauty . A biography of the pioneering performer Dorothy Dandridge, featuring decades of archival footage. Jimi Hendrix: The Uncut Story . From his upbringing in Seattle to his final days in London, this series explores the complex life-story behind the legendary artist Jimi Hendrix.  Muhammad Ali: The Greatest . Spanning his early years to his triumph at the 1966 Olympics, take a rare look at one of the world's most endearing heroes. Livin' for Love: The Natalie Cole Story .  Follow Natalie Cole and the legacy of her father the late great Nat King Cole whose absence fueled her triumph over drug...