January 2010
Review of AIO
Encore Collection
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 28, 2010
So
for a while there, I was worried that since I already have
the entire Odyssey collection, it wouldn't be worth it to
get a copy of the
Encore
Collection. Boy, was I wrong! If you're having the
same problem, then let me tell you a little bit about what
you get.
For starters, the packaging is beautiful. The
box contains three separate sets. Each set features a
different decade from the Adventures in Odyssey era.
It may interest many of you that the 1980's portion of the
product has a nice tip-of-the-hat to artist Bruce Day in
that they showcased a couple of his pieces which appeared on
albums. He illustrated the earlier collections before they
were released as the Gold Audio Series. When
you open the 1990's set you'll notice a showcase of the
artwork from that era as well. The 2000's set follows suit
and features some of our current artist's work, Gary Locke.
But that's not all.
Each set in the
Encore
Collection contains a special behind-the-scenes
write-up about each decade, a Key Characters
sections, and an interesting Timeline. In essence,
you get a three-decade quick summary of the key events
around town. If you have the
Official Guide, we'll just call the
Encore
Collection a very abbreviated form of it. This
collection is great for collectors and new fans. I'd
certainly recommend it for new listeners who don't know
where to start with a collection of 50+ albums.
To collectors out there, I'd say go for it. I
know you're out there, trying to decide if it's worth the
purchase. Likewise, I also highly recommend the
Platinum
Collection as well. It also has some
behind-the-scenes features, fun facts, and highlights of
older artwork as well. Not to mention you get 12 CDs in each
collection. It's AIO at its best!
I would show you guys pictures to show you
exactly what you're getting, but these are the types of AIO
products that are best experienced when opened for the first
time. Learn more about
Encore
Collection and
Platinum
Collection at their links, respectively.
Help Us
Redesign the Odyssey Scoop!
WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 27, 2010
We need your help! I mentioned several days
ago that I hoped to update the design of the entire website.
Fortunately, I already started on the preliminary design
work. You may have noticed that link at the top of the page
when I posted it yesterday. I'm excited to show you a sneak
peek of what the site will look like, so check it out and
then leave your comments. It's going to be a massive
project, so it will be some time before the new design is
implemented throughout the site. The idea is to get the site
at a more consistent level with a simple, understandable
structure. Click
here to see
it.
On another note, the
Official Podcast
released their latest video episode
yesterday, and what a podcast it was! We now know what Whit,
Connie, Eugene, and the new Odyssey characters will look
like!
Next Video
Podcast?
TUESDAY,
JANUARY 26, 2010
It looks like we have gotten an early heads
up on what's coming up in the next
Official Podcast. Brock Eastman, Product Marketing
at Focus on the Family, has revealed some news about the
very near future in his
blog.
|
 |
I wrote my first script for the
Official
Adventures in Odyssey Podcast. As you may have watched
the video where Bob and Jesse chased me all around Focus and
Whit's End you saw my debut on the podcast. We actually
recorded an audio podcast shortly after, which I had a small
part in and played off of the video podcast. However my
lines were cut from that podcast so I've only been able to
pester Bob and Jesse once. Well that isn't enough, so I made
a suggestion to Nathan and then wrote out a script. He added
another segment to the script and then we shot it on January
22nd. Because the script was used and filmed and will post
on Wednesday, I consider this my first non-self-published
work! Woot a celebration in my mind. So I hope you enjoy it
and check back here on Wednesday to watch it and let me know
what you think. |
Like the good fans that we are, I say let's
keep our eyes on the
Official
Site in the coming hours!
Update: The Podcast is now available!
Don't miss it!
AIO Insanity
SATURDAY,
JANUARY 23, 2010
I'm sure many of us would say we're insane
about Adventures in Odyssey. Thanks to one of our
loyal visitors, Audrey, I was recently informed about an AIO
fan whose blog is called
AIO Insanity. After reading through it, I must say
that this particular blogger loves AIO and I thoroughly
enjoyed seeing the perspective of another fan. I've added this blog
to our Links page so others can
enjoy it as well. Do you know about a link we don't have?
Send it our way.
As for me, I'm experiencing a little insanity
myself, mainly because I've been doing some
behind-the-scenes tweaks to the site. Many of you have
probably already noticed (though you didn't think about it)
when contacting us that you no longer have to confirm
through an outside website service before submitting
anything to us. That means it's easier for you guys to get
around and less of a hassle. Not only that, I've made all
the necessary purchases to keep this site running for at
least another two years (I keep things running on a two-year
basis as expenses are high ―
why not
donate to us to help us with our costs?)
I've also received so many comments regarding
website design improvements. Most of you like the design of
the current homepage over the look of the majority of the
website and would love to see it used throughout the site. I
won't make any promises as it would be a huge undertaking,
but I'd like to get going on that myself. Someday is
my goal for releasing it, and hopefully I'll be able to
improve the site. Thanks, everyone, for your continued
support! Until then, just continue being insane about AIO.
Act Like Odyssey Contest
FRIDAY,
JANUARY 22, 2010
Fans
everywhere are getting excited about the Act Like Odyssey
contest, hosted by the
Official Site. For the first time in the history of
Adventures in Odyssey, you have an opportunity to
videotape a scene from one of your favorite AIO scenes. And
the fun part is, if your video is the top favorite based on
the fans' votes, you will win the entire audio series of AIO!
Talk about the ultimate prize! That's fifty-one albums and
countless
hours―no, days―of
audio entertainment. Also, your winning video will appear at
the Official Site for everyone to see!
I know we had mentioned this briefly in our
January 15
post, but I wanted to give you a more thorough mention
later. Also, you've still got time to enter a free giveaway
for
Album 51
at the
Odyssey Times fan site as well. I have a feeling
things are just beginning to heat up as we get closer to the
new season!
The 2010
Season Rundown
THURSDAY,
JANUARY 21, 2010
I'm convinced that many of you are already
speculating as to what's going to happen in the next season
of Adventures in Odyssey. There's no doubt that some
of you have your hopes high. Just for fun, I've decided to
do some speculating of my own, though I wouldn't recommend
you believe everything you hear.
The Inspiration Station I & II
Connie discovers that her overly-friendly,
central character, grandfatherly figure is spending too much
time in the Imagination Station. To combat this, she invents
a new machine of her own and plants it in the soda shop for
easier access. But when Whit goes into her invention to find
inspiration, a different Whit comes out, causing devastating
results.
Clutter
It's spring cleaning time at Whit's End and
Connie and Whit are sorting through old items in the Little
Theatre. Ironically, they find a note from Eugene Meltsner
who has once again skipped town to hide from an evil
mind-controlling organization!
Game for a Mystery
Following their terrible discovery of
Eugene's absence from Odyssey, Whit and Connie are playing a
game of Twister they had found in the Little Theatre.
Awkwardly enough, a stranger visits Whit's End and joins the
game. But that's not all. At the conclusion of their game,
he informs the two ice cream shop employees that Eugene has
joined sides and now works for the evil
mind-controlling organization!
Target of the Week
With a new enemy to worry about, Whit and
Connie close down Whit's End and seek a safe hiding place
for the Inspiration Station. But will Eugene aim at his
target right and steal the plans to the station before
Connie and Whit know what hit them?
For the Birds
Installing some bird feeders in McAlister
seems harmless enough, but Whit receives an encrypted note
on a park bench. After miraculously decoding it in an
unbelievable amount of time, he realizes the message is a
lot more than he bargained for... and Eugene has gotten a
haircut.
When You're Right, You're Right
For once, Connie is right about why Eugene
shaved his head. In fact, she's the one who cut it. Yet,
Whit refuses to believe her when she tells him she has
switched to the bad side.
Grandma's Visit
When Eugene's long lost grandmother visits
town to find her grandson, Connie "spills the beans" that
Eugene is trying to take over the world. Unfortunately,
Grandma's not happy that she is being left out of his plan
for world domination and sets out on a road trip with Connie
to Salt Lake City, Eugene's central headquarters.
Finish What You...
Officer Burke is hot on the trail to find
Eugene and his mind-controlling organization, but an attack
of the H1N1 virus may thwart his efforts.
The Jubilee Singers I, II, & III
Whit begins to wonder why Connie hasn't shown
up for work for the past three months. A death threat and an
explosion of the town's favorite discovery emporium lands
Whit in the hospital and an end to his career as an
inventor. Meanwhile, Eugene, Connie and Grandma have worked
through their differences and reach their launch date to
take over the world. But will their quick stop to Bolivia do
them in?
Anyway, I hope you have enjoyed these
outlandish speculations. To see a list of what's coming up
beginning March 2010, visit out
weekend schedule.
Visitor
Comments Feature Added!
WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 20, 2010
As you may have noticed, I've been changing
the look of how this blog looks. Today I am proud to be able
to share that you can now post your own follow-up comments
to each blog entry from now on! What does that mean? You can
see what others think about the current topic of the day and
and even add your own thoughts. I figured it was about time
the Scoop got updated to the 21st Century. I won't be
updating all the old blog entries from the past nine years
as it would be too massive of an undertaking. So for 2010
and beyond, you now have more of a voice! Thanks to everyone
who contacted me over the past few months and years
regarding improvements to the site.
Also, I've been really pleased with how many
of you are subscribing to our
RSS feed
on a daily basis! Since we started RSS-ing, we are receiving
an average of 16 new subscribers a day. On our best days,
we're getting well over the 20's! If you haven't subscribed
to our RSS feed yet,
why not today?
So, with all that being said, what do you
think of the new comment feature?
Local Businessman Whittaker Gains Reactions
MONDAY,
JANUARY 18, 2010
One
of Odyssey's most well-known citizens has undergone a
drastic change to his physical appearance. Residents of
Odyssey, as well as avid fans of the popular Adventures
in Odyssey radio drama, have taken notice of this
shocking change.
"Connie really inspired me with her diet
program several years ago," Whittaker said. "Even before
that, I took to running occasionally in McAlister Park to
watch my weight."
In a recent interview, Whittaker admitted
that he has always struggled with his weight, especially
since he owns and maintains the town's most popular ice
cream shop.
"Whit's End has been a popular attraction
since I opened it in 1987. Working around my favorite cold
dessert has always been difficult, but Connie Kendall, one
of my long-time employees, motivated me to strive for better
living."
Even some of Odyssey's residents are taking
notice of the new "Whit."
"I obtained copies of many of the Kids Radio
programs over the years when they broadcast around town, and Mr.
Whittaker certainly has a different voice than he had in the
past. I think his diet has certainly affected his voice," Brad Dillard
revealed to reporters. As a local station manager at Q94,
Mr. Dillard has a long-time interest in the radio station
that jumpstarted his career. "Without Mr. Whittaker, I don't
know what I'd be doing."
"Whit's voice changed? I never noticed,"
employee Connie Kendall observed. "I guess I've been around
him so much, it's hard to tell. Then again, my voice has
probably changed, too, but I always stay the same age."
Eugene Meltsner, Whittaker's maintenance man
for the shop's inventions, stated: "It's not as if I had the
opportunity to see the archaic appearance of Mr. Whittaker
in the first place because of the hair over my eyes for so
many years. I have particularly allowed myself to obtain a
haircut in album 51 to be able to see all the faces I adore
so much. Besides, it was actually my hair that kept me from
earning my driver's license the first time."
Not everyone is amazed by Whit's new
look. Adventures in Odyssey fan Dallas
shared his thoughts on the old look for John Avery
Whittaker: "Personally I think that's the best picture for
Whit. Brown jacket with a red sweater, brown pants, same
walrus moustache and overweight, but not round as a ball
like in some of his newer pictures."
Regardless of the opinions circulating about
the new Whittaker in 2010, critically-acclaimed
odysseyscoop.com webmaster Jacob Isom is optimistic: "At
first I didn't like the new look for this small-town
grandfatherly inventor, but it's beginning to grow on me.
It'll be nice to see the more rotund Whit of the earlier
years remaining on albums 1-50 (for old time's sake) with a
slight twist for albums 51 and up. It's like we get to keep
what made Whit great and see him shed a few pounds for the
second half of the series."
Whittaker plans to install a kid-friendly
treadmill in the train room of Whit's End to encourage
healthy exercise habits in the future. Meanwhile, fans look
forward to the coming excitement in Odyssey with their
re-made role model.
Is it
Time for a New Logo?
FRIDAY,
JANUARY 15, 2010
It seems to be turning into a heated debate
as comments just keep pouring in. I'm speaking, of course,
of the new logo released in the latest
Official Podcast. Originally, I started writing
today's blog entry telling what I thought of the new logo.
Yet, as I kept writing, I found that I couldn't get myself
to stop talking about it. Thus, our latest article was born.
Take a look:
|
|
Here's one rule of graphic
design that we must always remember: If it looks like it was
photoshopped, it probably was. A good indication that
something maintains good graphic design is that it goes
unnoticed by the viewer. A good logo grabs your attention
and makes you agree with its design choices.
...Read |
I encourage you to read this article. Just
keep in mind that albums 51+ will feature the new logo. Albums 1-50 repacks will maintain the integrity of the logo
we were accustomed to. So what are you waiting for? Read our
latest article,
Is It Time
for a New Adventures in Odyssey Logo? Then
decide for yourself.
Also, just when you thought the excitement
was over and nothing new was going to happen for a while,
another contest has just begun! You now you have a chance to
win 51 albums of Adventures in Odyssey, a contest
hosted by the
Official Site! Also,
The Odyssey Times fansite is giving away a free copy
of album 51 as well. Enter now! What isn't there to
do as we await the new season?
The Ultimate Odyssey IQ Challenge
Winners Revealed!
WEDNESDAY,
JANUARY 13, 2010
Today is a good day! As promised, we're excited to announce
our winners of
The Ultimate Odyssey IQ Challenge.
Over the past week, many of our visitors have been running
around crazy, researching episodes to get all the answers to
our trivia contest right. We received a total of 138 entries
in a week's time. From there, we narrowed down to actual
number of contestants (some submitted multiple times because
we let our contestants improve their scores). Thanks to over
100 of you who participated in our challenge! And yes, I am
going to make you wait just a little longer as the page
loads to our
Contests section.
That's right! Wait two seconds longer as you
click here to find out if you
won! And then get all the 100 answers you've been waiting
for. We know you're dying to see them. If you're one of our
winners, be watching your e-mail in the coming days!
On behalf of the Odyssey Scoop and the
Unofficial Podcast, thanks to all of you for
participating. And a special thanks to Focus on the Family
for providing these wonderful prizes. No doubt our winners
will have a good time listening to their free copies of
Take It From the Top,
available March 2010!
Last Chance
to win #51!
MONDAY,
JANUARY 11, 2010
Today is your last chance to enter
The Ultimate Odyssey IQ Challenge,
hosted by the Odyssey Scoop and the
Unofficial Podcast! Get your entry in before it's
too late! Although it's the last day, you could still be get
one of the best scores... deeming you the winner! Then check
back on January 13th to see if you are one of our Odyssey IQ
winners! (see January
5 and
8 posts for more
info.)
The clock
is ticking...
FRIDAY,
JANUARY 8, 2010
It looks like the clock is still ticking and
it's anyone's game at this point! Participate in
The Ultimate Odyssey IQ Challenge
to win a copy of album 51,
Take It From the Top.
If you haven't tried our challenge yet, you still have until
11:59 EST on January 11th to get your entry submitted. If
you already submitted your entry and feel you can do better,
go ahead and submit another. Remember, the better your
score, the better your opportunity to win. If you are
considering re-submitting, keep in mind that your most
recent submission replaces your previous attempts. You can
also chat with other fans at
this message board thread. For more
information, see our January 5th post below. Have fun!
The Ultimate Odyssey IQ Challenge!
TUESDAY,
JANUARY 5, 2010
With the arrival of the New Year, we are now
only two months away from the release of the fifty-first
album,
Take It From the Top.
As we await the new episodes from this highly anticipated
album, the Odyssey Scoop and the
Unofficial Podcast have teamed up to give you the
opportunity to win a free copy to add to your collection!
Focus on the Family has graciously offered to provide copies
of this album, so enter now to win!
How do I enter?
Test
your Odyssey knowledge by answering
100 questions from the past fifty albums of
"Adventures in Odyssey."
When is the deadline?
We must receive all entries no later than January 11 at
11:59pm eastern time. Winners will be announced January 13
at the Odyssey Scoop.
What if I don't know the answer to a certain question?
You may want to listen to past episodes to find the answers.
Research is encouraged!
Get started and test your Odyssey IQ!
Get
ready for a new decade!
MONDAY,
JANUARY 4, 2010
Welcome to 2010, everyone. I'm
sure most of you out there are going to struggle for the
next few months just trying to get the year written
correctly on your checks, school papers, and legal
documents. For me, it usually clicks in sometime during the
month of April. And then, before you know it, the year is
over and we have to go through the same thing again.
But as we all experience this
trying process, I'd like to announce that we've got some
things preheating in the oven for 2010. We're hoping to
release more fun
Audio to our
site, conduct some new interviews, review the new season
airing this March, and much more! And, of course, you won't
want to miss out on all of our upcoming contests and
giveaways. 2010, we've got your figured out!
In the meantime, keep your
eyes on the Scoop for the latest news on everyone's favorite
radio program. And then some. Happy New Year, everyone!
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