ChipHeartsMovies

And welcome aboard OneSharpDame! Once you get started you'll see how fun it is!

Right on all counts, LonesomePolecat.

Yes, we'll include 1948. So that's Warner Brothers - 1948 or earlier.

Thanks everyone for your input. The reason I asked y'all to make your voices heard in the first day of the Challenge was to allow me to edit the Rules at the top of the game, so new players don't get confused. Based on your input, here's the deal. So gang: to clarify, your use of the Warner Brothers library this time is limited to films BEFORE 1948 for this Challenge. Unless, of course, the movie you want has been previously screened on TCM, or you choose to use it as a Premiere. With that final amendment, the Rules are now set. I can't wait to see what both veteran and new players will do wit their schedules! And again: WELCOME NEW PLAYERS!

That's absolutely gorgeous. Are you using films as references for the other panels? What a fun thing to work on!

another question, about the 13s---can we simply schedule on a 13th with someone's birthday that is on a thirteenth? does that count? That's not quite in the spirit of the theme. Maybe movies made when the child star was 13, or something like that. You don't have to be super-literal with the 13 thing --- play around a little and you'll start to see an amazing number of ways you can go.

1) The links for the film libraries show separate lists for the company as the distributor and as the production company. Are we limited to only their productions, only what they distributed, or can we use both? I have always interpreted this as okay to use both. Please let me know if that's incorrect, folks. 2) If we include a guest programmer, does it have to be someone real? I feel that Kermit (a wonderful choice!) kind of pushed the limits on the issue. How skewed would it be to have the guest a mythical ghost or an animated character from Japanimation? I'm okay with fictional characters. 3) In the challenge for: "at least four films in a single block all set in or filmed in the same city or state" -- does the name of the 'city' have to be consistent? I'm thinking that, just as NYC is also known as 'The Big Apple,' 'The Nation's Melting Pot,' and other things (which I can't list on a family forum), it might be possible, with little stretch of the imagination, that the same location, at different times, might be called 'Moonbase 9,' 'South Lunar Colony,' 'Crater Mining Camp,' etc. That's a very creative approach. Fine with me. 4) Do we actually have to pick a date, or can it just be a generic week? (I'm worried that any actual week I pick might raise objections because I 'forgot' some star's birthday, or the anniversay of a film, or . . . well, many things that I just don't want to include. You should put real dates, although you are free not to program birthdays and the like. Believe me, no one will be critical of that!

I used the same libraries as Challenge #12. The only changes I made: -Return of Gaumont, which was in and out in the past -Clarified Public Access use, by giving a better reference than Wikipedia. If everyone would like the pre-1948 rule, we need to change it today -- please weigh in now. And thank you for clarifying the p/s business. Hope everyone has fun!

In *The Story of Seabiscuit* , which is on TCM right now, a major race is run ... on Friday the 13th. Coincidence?

Also to be clear, you have very wide rein in programming the "13" stuff ---you can interpret any way you like, you don't all have tp program *Thirteen Ghosts* and *Thirteen Women* -- unless you want to! helenbaby, you'll be amazed how supportive this bunch will be! Have fun!

Good luck and have fun, all! And I hope some of my friends who are experienced at running these Challenges will glance over the rules I posted and catch any goofs I may have incorporated. And as always, new players should ask questions!

The Challenge has been posted! I held off posting til our friends in Hawaii rang in May 1. This thread is now closed. Please post your questions and comments in the thread THE TCM PROGRAMMING CHALLENGE #13: LUCKY13." Good luck and have fun!

*Welcome to the TCM Programming Challenge #13!* Though my pal patful won Challenge #12 and is the rightful host this time, it seems patful is the superstitious type who won't walk under any ladders, break any mirrors, or host any Challenge #13's. Actually, patful had a personal scheduling conflict, and since I squeaked in second place last time p asked me to host. _This Challenge will run one month, from May 1 to May 31, 2009._ All schedules must be posted by midnight May 31, 2009, ET. I threw in an extra two days to give you five full weekends to work. This is a fun event that was started by fellow TCMer path40a as a way to challenge people to program a week's schedule as if they were the holder of this most important job. This contest is in no way sponsored, endorsed or coordinated by the folks at TCM. There will be small prizes this go-round, but the real prize comes with the fun and the challenge of playing. I won't tell you what the prizes are until we're done. One thing to note is that the TCM programmer has often looked in and on occasion mined the brilliance of some contestants for use in the actual broadcast schedules! *PROGRAMMING REQUIREMENTS* *1. YOUR WEEK* Because TCM announces its schedule about three months in advance, you can select any week September 2009 to September 2010. Your week starts at 6am ET on Sunday and ends on the following Sunday at 5:59 am ET. This means that your first film programmed begins right at 6 AM Sunday. Your final film can run slightly over, but should end fairly close to 5:59 AM ET the following Sunday. *2. YOUR DAY* Each day usually begins at 6am ET but can start later if needed. *3. STAR OF THE MONTH* One night a block of at least four films must be devoted to a Star Of The Month. Be sure the person you select has enough movies to schedule over a four week period. *4. SPECIAL CHALLENGE: LUCKY 13* There are two special challenges in this edition. In the first, in honor of this being Challenge #13, use one night of programming (at least four films) to interpret ... the Number 13. Some ideas to get you started: -Movies about bad luck, omens, superstitions, the occult (13 as a bad-luck sign) -Movies that include bar mitzvahs (they happen at age 13) -Movies about rugby (13 members on a team) -Movies that include the Last Supper (13 at the table) Find many more examples of the use of the number 13 in our culture at http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/13_(number), and think of your own! Your TCM take on the Number 13 should include at least four movies and start in prime time. The first one should start at 8 PM, any night you have room in the schedule. Be as creative as you can in the interpretation of this! *5. SPECIAL CHALLENGE #2: LOCATION! LOCATION!* The second of the special challenges in this edition was inspired by recent tributes on TCM to New York and Los Angeles-set films. As a New Yorker, I know how much I love seeing movies set/filmed in my town. Your challenge: program at least four films in a single block all set in or filmed in the same city or state --- anywhere _EXCEPT_ New York City and L.A. Here's the chance to give your hometown or favorite vacation spot the TCM spotlight that shined on New York and L.A.! This block of films can be programmed at any time in the day or night. Four is the minimum number, you can do as many as you want. *6. OTHER THEMES* All other evenings are themes of your choosing. Daytime themes are encouraged. Once you've chosen your week, check what stars were born then. Maybe it's the anniversary of a historical event, or the anniversary of a classic film's release. You're the programmer, do what you want! Keep in mind that a good TCM schedule has diversity, so try and include different types of movies in the course of the week. *7. PROGRAM TIMES* Feature films generally start on the top, quarter, bottom, three-quarters of the hour. Primetime features start at 8pm ET. Please allow enough time on your evening schedule to allow for intros and outtros for each film. *8. INTERSTITIALS AND SHORTS* Try not to leave more than 15 minute gaps between the end of one film and the beginning of the next, lest your audience grow bored. You are not required to but feel free to include short films, featurettes, trailers, etc. in your schedule. *9. REGULAR TCM PROGRAMMING BLOCKS* Please program the regular TCM features in your schedule. "Silent Sunday Nights" begins around midnight Sunday and is followed by "TCM Imports." "TCM Underground" starts about 2am ET on Friday. Those start times can be flexible. Saturday's "The Essentials" must start at 8pm ET. You can also program a celebrity Guest Programmer evening, or a Private Screening, or any of the other occasional TCM features, but you aren't required to. *10. PROGRAMMING NOTES* Please include some notes on your schedule. We are interested to know why you picked a selection and your inspirations. These are always fun to read, and they really allow us a peek at what makes you love movies. *11. TCM PREMIERES* This challenge will allow for 8 premieres. A premiere is classified as any movie not available through the core libraries which has also not been previously shown on TCM. Movies for "Silent Sunday Nights", "Underground" and "Imports" are not counted against the 8. This time , I'm also saying that you can program any silent film made before 1930 without counting it as a Premieres, regardless of where you place it in the schedule. *12. FILMS IN THE PUBLIC DOMAIN* You may also use films in the Public Domain without counting against your premieres regardless of the studio that released them. Because Wikipedia's Public Domain entry is riddled with inaccuracies, for the purposes of determining what is and isn't in the public domain we will be using the movies and shorts included in the Prelinger Archives, which is devoted to presenting these films free on the internet. (As a bonus, you can watch all of them online to see if they fit your needs). The link is listed with the libraries below. Please mark these films "p/d" on your schedule. *13. THE FILM LIBRARIES FOR THIS CHALLENGE* The film libraries (with hyperlinks) for use in this Challenge are - Warner Bros (pre-1948 only): http://www.imdb.com/company/co0026840/ MGM (pre-1986): http://www.imdb.com/company/co0020206/ RKO (all): http://www.imdb.com/company/co0041421/ Columbia Pictures (all) http://www.imdb.com/company/co0071509/ United Artists (after 1950): http://www.imdb.com/company/co0026841/ Samuel Goldwyn (all): http://www.imdb.com/company/co0016710/ J. Arthur Rank Film Distributors gb: http://www.imdb.com/company/co0027356/ Walt Disney (Live Action only): http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/List_of_Disney_live_action_films Public Domain list: http://www.archive.org/details/feature_films *14. PREVIOUSLY SCREENED FILMS* As always, you are free to program any film that has already been presented on TCM regardless of library affiliation. This should be designated with a "p/s" symbol (designating "previously scheduled"). The way to see if a movie has been previously screened is to go to the homepage and search the "Site." If TCM has played the film before, you will find programming listings, notes, or stories. DON'T search "Database" -- that includes all movies. Search "Site." *15. RUNNING TIMES* You can find running times for your film selections by using IMDB.com or right here on the TCM website. If using TCM.com, go to the homepage and search "Database" for the film title you need. *16. HOW TO FORMAT* Format your listing by showing the time it shows, name of the film, year it was produced, star or person of interest, studio, running time, premiere or previously scheduled. Example: 3 PM: *The Letter* (1940), dir. by William Wyler, starring Bette Davis, WB, 95 min *LINKS TO PREVIOUS CHALLENGES:* Here are links to previous Challenges and schedules: Challenge #12 http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=139071&start=150&tstart=0 Challenge #11 http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?messageID=8155190 Challenge #10 ( http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/thread.jspa?threadID=127551&start=30&tstart=495&messageID=8088572#8088572 ) Challenge #9 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=8046284#8046284) Challenge #8 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=8013984#8013984) Challenge #7 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7973260#7973260) Challenge #6 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7934043#7934043) Challenge #5 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7877675#7877675) Challenge #4 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7847611#7847611) Challenge #3 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7827881#7827881) Challenge #2 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7794350#7794350) or the original from the immortal Path40a Challenge #1 (http://forums.tcm.com/jive/tcm/message.jspa?messageID=7781430#7781430) *VOTING FOR THE WINNER:* At the conclusion of the contest a separate thread will be opened for voting. Any member of the TCM.com community may vote, whether you have entered a Challenge or not. You must have registered as a member of TCM.com by midnight April 30, 2009 to vote. In the event of a tie, the moderator will cast the deciding vote. Have fun! Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies, due to a decision by the community to...ah, just read further. And enjoy the game!

Heavens to Betsy! In less than two hours it's May 1 (on the East Coast)! The TCM Programming Challenge is drawing nearer with every second! Batten down the hatches and be sure your IMDb.com and TCM.com links are bookmarked! Ready or not, the TCM Programming Challenge is coming! Professor Marvel: "There's a storm blowin' up, a Whopper, to speak in the vernacular of the peasantry." Zeke: "It's a twister! It's a twister!" -Prof. Marvel (Frank Morgan) and Zeke (Bert Lahr), lightly edited, in "The Wizard of Oz" Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies who is so excited the games are about to begin he makes brainless typos. If he only had a brain.

patful, not to worry --- *Troop Beverly Hills* is only inappropriate for one of the special Challenges. That Star of the Month: Shelley Long night you have up your sleeve is safe on any other night! (I have to admit to liking this movie as a Guilty Pleasure. Plus, it was the film debut of Tori Spelling!).

Not long now... The special themes allow you to be very creative. They can fit any genre or era, and one in particular you can interpret in a million ways!

While I've used that logic to justify cocktails at pretty much any hour, I'm afraid this Challenge runs on Eastern time. "Come with us quietly, Rosemary. Don't argue or make a scene. Because if you say anything more about witches or witchcraft, we're gonna be forced to take you to a mental hospital. You don't want that, do you?" -Dr Abraham Sapirstein (Ralph Bellamy) in "Rosemary's Baby" Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies for lazy typos.

Other movies that _wouldn't_ make the cut for the first Special Challenge I mentioned include *Midnight Cowboy, Show People, What Ever Happened to Baby Jane?, BUtterfield 8, Troop Beverly Hills, Funny Girl* and *King Kong* --- all three versions. All will be made clear in less than a day as we launch the new Challenge! Bookmark your IMDb link now!

Oh, and that earlier "accidental" slip when I mentioned *Bell, Book and Candle* ? That one is a hint about the OTHER Special Challenge Theme. Maybe I'll share more hints for the other Special Challenge Theme later today ... either way, all will be explained tomorrow! "I feel like an idiot fainting in a stranger's office." -Mary Gibson (Kim Hunter) in The Seventh Victim

We're in the home stretch for the official launch of the new Challenge. By popular demand, here's a little peek at things to come in the game (and a hint or two). It will launch TOMORROW, Friday, May 1. There will be TWO Special Challenge Themes that you will be asked to incorporate into your schedule. On one of them, here's a hint: movies that _wouldn't_ fit the bill include *Dinner at Eight, The Clock, Double Indemnity, Chinatown, For Pete's Sake* or *Everyone Says I Love You* . And while I know they'll overcome the slight handicap with their sparkling minds and encyclopedic film knowledge, some TCMers who might be a wee bit extra-Challenged (should they all choose to play, two of them haven't tossed their hats in the ring publicly) include TCM Fan Programmers lzcutter, CineMaven, Kyle, and MissGoddess. They're singled out since, thanks to their terrific work this month as Fan Programmers, _everyone_ has gotten to know them a little. (They aren't really handicapped at all, something about them provides a clue. And that something ISN'T how great they looked on TCM! That's a given, not a clue). And that's your hint. Figure out what ties those films and those TCMers together and you'll get a whopping few hours' head start. Even if someone guesses this particular Challenge theme correctly, I will neither confirm nor deny until the game's rules are announced tomorrow. First-time players, the Challenge isn't this cryptic, the rules will be stated clearly and everyone will have the same info --- and the whole month of May to set up a schedule. I am ESPECIALLY excited that several people have said they'll be joining the game for the first time. You'll find it loads of fun, and if you hit a rough patch you'll find me --- and your other TCM pals --- available to help explain how to play. Just want to give everyone who's interested a puzzle to play with for the final hours before the REAL game starts. Charles Ferry: "If you were my girl, I'd make love to you in every room of the house, on every table top, on every rug." Schuyler Dandridge: "We also have some lovely Early American chandeliers..." -Ferry (Tim Roth) and Dandridge (Drew Barrymore) in Everyone Says I Love You Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies. Look at what time he posted this and you have the answer why he is editing.

As we know from the movies, when the hijackers are sexy enough then a crime isn't really committed. So you're safe, lzcutter & company, especially since this thread will be shut down soon for the OFFICIAL Challenge thread. Particularly since you're using your hijacking wiles to try and lure molo into playing along. And Holly, I am indeed a fan of *Rocky Horror* --- a huge fan. I was one of those thousands of 13 year olds they wrote magazine articles about in the 70's who went to the theatre every weekend at midnight and threw toilet paper and squirted squirt guns and chanted responses to the dialogue, most of which I can recite along with the movie to this day. I probably saw it (in the theatre) close to a hundred times. It might surprise some of my TCM pals who know my constantly declared favorite movie is the family-friendly *Meet Me in St. Louis* , but I would say that *Rocky Horror* is one of two movies that had the greatest impact on my life. Had I been a Fan Programmer pick who had to choose ten films for TCM, that would definitely have been among them. It's impossible to describe today what that movie meant to an "unconventional" teen growing up in a small town outside Atlanta in a very different time than we live in today. For all of its silliness and high camp, seeing it was a life-altering experience for a very large number of people. But that isn't a hint for the coming Challenge, just an answer to a question. Your hints will be posted separately --- and one will be posted momentarily!

Filmlover, my lips are sealed. Isn't it wonderful not knowing, and knowing that all will be revealed on Friday? But I will drop a hint tomorrow. "Anticipation...is keeping me waiting."-Carly Simon "There is no terror in a bang, only in the anticipation of it." -Alfred Hitchcock "I see you shiver with antici...pation." -Frank N. Furter (Tim Curry), The Rocky Horror Picture Show"

How about an UN-hint...I'll tell you something this Challenge DOESN'T include. All of the references to and quotes from *All About Eve* in this thread referred solely to my sneaky understudy self swiping the role of moderator from the rightful star patful. That's why I stopping using *Eve* quotes a few days ago. There's nothing about *All About Eve* specifically in this Challenge, but of course you're welcome to come up with an *Eve* theme if you feel so inspired. As in all Challenges, most of the time on your schedule you can go crazy with your own ideas. And in this Challenge, whether you're a Birdie, a Miss Caswell, an Addison DeWitt, an Eve, a Margo, a Karen, a Lloyd, or even (yawn) a Bill Sampson...you have the chance for overnight stardom if you win the game! Tomorrow I'll drop a hint ... "I sit in the subway sometimes, on buses, or the movies, and I look at the people next to me and I think...'What would you say if I told you I was a witch?' " -Queenie (Elsa Lanchester) in Bell, Book and Candle ...oops, did I just let something slip?

Just a reminder for any of you who are non-members of TCM.com, you'll need to sign up for membership by the end of the calendar day (before midnight) tomorrow, April 30, in order to vote. Thanks patful for pointing out an error and enabling me to correct it to avoid confusion. Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies, who apparently is being played by Suzanne Somers or the Landers Sisters lately.

filmlover, I think the quote was actually "Uneasy lies the something something that wears the tiara." Something like that. Not sure if it was in *Singin' in the Rain* or *Henry IV* but either way --- if Mr. Freed or Mr. Shakespeare decreed it, it must be so. I will man up and accept the tie-breaker rule. This is going to be the best Challenge yet! Message was edited by: ChipHeartsMovies, cuz he and Plain Text ain't never gonna be friends.