You see, Dr. Seuss's widow, Audrey Geisel, decided to choose Ron Howard's vision of How the Grinch Stole Christmas (ala Jim Carrey) over Berkeley Breathed's vision of it (as revealed in his concept art). I just can't see how she thought the Jim Carrey version would be better.
For those of you who don't know, Berkeley Breathed was the comic artist who gave us Bloom County. Sure there was Outland that started up after the very popular Bloom County ended. But I
I know Mr. Breathed felt that he needed to end Bloom County because he didn't want it to become...well...Garfield. And for those of you who still like Garfield, I guess I'm sorry (not really), because I think Garfield stopped being funny twenty years ago. Seriously, Garfield needs to die.
I still have a cut-out of "Bill the Cat" at work tacked to my wall board. It's a before and after thing meaning "before work" and "after work." The "Before" picture is one of "Garfield" and the "After" is Bill the Cat (used to illustrate how I feel after a long day's work). If you aren't familiar with "Bill the Cat" I seriously recommend picking up Bloom County Babylon. That book had me in hysteric fits because it was so funny. However, part of what made Berke Breathed so laughable was his ability to play off of political headlines and other important things present in pop culture (like Michael Jackson). So its "time" may have passed as (I think) a good joke has to strike a nerve with its audience, and a conditon for this is that they must be "in the know" before a joke can land properly.
Anyway, take a look at this concept art. Hopefully you are as sad as me that this didn't get made. *Shakes fist at Hollywood. Oh and the voice of the Grinch would have been none other than Jack Nicholson. That's a way better choice than Jim Carrey on any day that ends in a "y."
 |
| Click to EMBIGGEN |
 |
| Click to EMBIGGEN |
 |
| Click to EMBIGGEN |
I never liked Outland, but Bloom County was classic.
ReplyDeleteHis version looks ten times better. And to choose Howard's over the original cartoon? Are you kidding?
LOVE Bloom County. Kill Garfield and bring back BC and Calvin & Hobbes!!!
ReplyDeleteOkay, Berkeley's vision for the Grinch is fantastic! Just incredible. Ron Howard made the Grinch look like a Care Bear.
Just about anything is better than the Jim Carrey Grinch. Though surprisingly that movie was the top grosser for 2000 or whenever it was released, which is kind of sad.
ReplyDeleteI'm with you on Garfield.
ReplyDeleteAnd I've never seen Jim Carrey's version of The Grinch. I just knew to stay away from that one.
I stopped reading "Garfield" comic strips since our oldest finished high school and went away to college (well eighteen years ago). I wouldn't know if Garfield is funny or not any more. For some reason I still feel sad.
ReplyDeleteOh, man. I grew up reading those comics. Loving this rendition of the Grinch. :)
ReplyDeleteNever heard of this comic before. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteLove the art!
ReplyDelete(And I'm LOL-ing at your comment on my blog, Michael. Thanks so much) :) :) :)
Let's all agree that Mike Myers' cat in the Hat was an even bigger abomination. No more live action Dr Seuss please.
ReplyDeletemood
Moody Writing
I see what you're saying.
ReplyDeleteThat is some awesome concept art. I'd love to see a movie that looks like that. I read Bloom County, but I don't recall having a strong opinion about it either way, except that recently I've been hearing it referred to as a classic. I didn't realize it was so well loved.
ReplyDeleteI'm not a Jim Carrey fan in anything though I like the song, Where are you, Christmas?
ReplyDeleteWas Garfield funny at one time? I don't remember.
I completely agree - stunning artwork. I still love the old one with the little happy dog :)
ReplyDeleteWhen I was in college, we had the before and after pictures on the door of the math department. They said: "Before Math" (with Garfield) and "After Math" (with Bill). I still love that.
ReplyDeleteI've disliked Jim Carrey from the first time I saw him on In Living Color. He just irritates me.
ReplyDeleteI shared "A Wish for Wings that Would Fly/Work" with my 3rd graders. It was more Bloom than other work. I miss that Berkley Breathes.
ReplyDeleteI LOVED Bloom County and was so unhappy when BB retired (at some ridiculously young age). The Carrey version of the Grinch has been on TV umpteen times, but I can't be bothered with it. Why mess with a classic with Boris Karloff?
ReplyDeleteWow. That is so cool.
ReplyDeleteSome people like the Jim Carrey version. Just before the break, I had a class at the continuation high school, and the teacher left A Christmas Story for them. They moaned and complained. They wanted to see the Grinch.
Some days I feel so old.
I actually love the Jim Carrey version. But I will agree that the art in your post is amazing Mike. But Hollywood would want a family friendly version and that one looks just a wee bit scary for little kids. And Hollywood would never take that chance on a family film.
ReplyDeleteI have to agree with your thoughts on the Grinch. That artwork is very good. I didn't really like the Jim Carrey version.
ReplyDeleteOh my gosh. Nicholson would have been a fantastic Grinch voice.
ReplyDeleteThese are awesome! And I totally love Bloom County, Opus and Bill are still with me. I have a rocked out Opus with green Mohawk that says Sold My Soul To Rock N Roll.
ReplyDelete