"Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter" - An Original Essay by Jeff Dodge

At the end of July and beginning of August, I just had this weird feeling going through me. It was only a few weeks after seeing the final Harry Potter movie for the first time. It was hard to imagine that there would be no more Potter movies. So I started writing down my thoughts. I put it aside for a while. A while ended up being about months (I didn't plan on waiting that long). As the DVD release date approached for the final film, I got the essay back out and went back through and edited the essay.

Yesterday was the release date for Harry Potter and the Deathly Hallows: Part 2, the final one. And to coincide with that release, I released my essay on OMGWire.com. I talk about how I was first introduced to the series, and transition into my feelings on the series coming to an end and what that means for me. I suggest reading the whole essay so you can understand why I titled it "Why I Refuse to Say Goodbye to Harry Potter."

Below is a short excerpt from the essay:

I didn't want to write this. I really didn't. It's been about four months now since the final Harry Potter movie came out, and I may have been in denial. In denial that the end was here and it's passed by me in a flash. I didn't want to write this, because I didn't want to say goodbye.

I first met Harry Potter in 1999. I was 11, the same age Harry was when he received his letter to attend Hogwarts School of Witchcraft and Wizardry. I never received mine, but I got so much more than just a mere letter. On Christmas Eve of that year, I received the first three books as a Christmas gift from my step-grandma. I had never heard of this series before, but thanked her because she knew I loved to read. Little did she (or I) know how much that one choice would change my life forever, would turn out to be more than just a simple gift.

But it didn't start that way. I began reading Sorcerer's Stone, and can you believe it when I say I didn't get very far before I stopped reading and stored the books away? At that time, it didn't catch my attention for some reason. A few months later, though, I was going through my closet and rediscovered Harry Potter sitting there with my other books. I decided to give it another chance. And boy am I glad I did. I can't even imagine what my life would have been like if I didn't. Before I knew it, I had swallowed up all three pretty much in one gulp and hungered for more. The problem? The fourth book wouldn't be released until summertime. And so Harry Potter went on the backburner again, but only temporarily. On the morning of July 8, 2000, I received a call from my mom (I had stayed at my grandparents' beach house the previous night) that UPS or some other delivery truck had pulled up and delivered a package. She didn't think she had ordered anything, so she was a little confused. But when she opened it, there was Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire. I had completely forgotten that I had entered a contest through one of the bookstores at the mall to win a free copy of the book. I told her to make sure to bring it with her when she came out to the beach house later that day. To the average person, two weeks might seem like a short time to read a 734 page book. And at the time, it was fast for me. (My speed time would quicken dramatically for the remaining books).

Goblet of Fire changed everything. Not just for me, but for the fandom and the franchise. After Goblet of Fire, I discovered Harry Potter fansites, who were all dissecting and analyzing the books for clues to what would happen next. I read through every single news item and rumor to see what the plot of book 5 would be. It was excruciating to have to wait three (THREE!!!) years for Order of the Phoenix.

Tragedy struck just over a year later...

The entire essay is much longer than this. To read the full essay, click HERE.

Lifetime's J.K. Rowling Biopic, "Magic Beyond Words," Premieres July 18 (Watch a Movie Clip Here)

Lifetime will be premiering Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story on Monday, July 18, at 8pm ET/PT. This unauthorized TV movie biopic recounts Rowling's struggles to make ends meet before Harry Potter came into her life.

Below is the synopsis of the movie, via Lifetime's website:

"Magic Beyond Words: The J.K. Rowling Story" dramatizes the British author's struggle to bring the beloved wizard fantasy of Harry Potter to life. Starting out as a single mother on welfare, she became one of the world's wealthiest women, with more than 400 million copies of her visionary books sold across the globe, resulting in a billion-dollar film franchise. The film is an inspiring look of a woman's rise to become one of the most influential writers ever -- from her humble beginnings as an imaginative young girl and awkward teenager to the devastating loss of her mother and the genesis of the Harry Potter phenomenon in her early twenties. The rags-to-riches tale also follows Rowling's tumultuous first marriage, becoming a mother, her divorce and the dark days of living on government assistance while publisher after publisher passed on her first novel ... before it became an international best-seller and established Rowling's rightful place in literary and cultural history.

Visit the Magic Beyond Words page on Lifetime's website for more information on the movie.

Finally, Poppy Montgomery, who plays Rowling in Magic Beyond Words, appeared as a guest on Live with Regis and Kelly this morning to promote the movie; the show aired a clip, in which Rowling is in the process of applying for governmental assistance. Watch the interview and clip below:

TV Watch Online provides the latest TV, movie and entertainment news every day. Check back here to the T.W.O. BLOG for all of my recaps/reviews, commentary, opinions, and more. And don't forget to follow us on Twitter @TVWatchOnline.

T.W.O. Show #28: Let the Games Almost Begin!

The T.W.O. Show podcast is back for episode #28 with the latest news, rumors, announcements and much more! Here's a rundown of what I discuss in the episode:

*Idol-Talk is back in the T.W.O. BLOG for season 10!
*T.W.O. Debuts The Hunger Games page
*T.W.O. BLOG: In Defense of Skins
*Regis Retiring: I choose my replacement for him.
*Even more award show nominations and winners
   -Golden Globe Winners
   -Oscar nominations
*Amazing Race: Returning teams announced
*Desperate Housewives: Ending in 2013?
*Glee: Superbowl, guest stars, and graduation
*American Idol: Top 13?, CD milestones & releases
*Grey's Anatomy
*Harry Potter: The latest Box Office numbers, DVD release info, Part 2 changes, more.
*Narnia: The latest Box Office numbers, DVD release info
*Twilight
*Hunger Games: Release Date
*Hobbit: Another setback
*My Recommendations...Or Not
   -Social Network, Catfish & more.

To download this latest episode, click HERE to visit TV Watch Online's MediaFire download page, where you can also find every episode to date.

T.W.O. Show #27: It's 2011!

The T.W.O. Show podcast is back for 2011 with episode #27. Here's a rundown of what I discuss in the episode:

*Changes have been made to the site, blog and podcast
*Award Nominations galore!
*Amazing Race: Season 18 will be an All-Stars edition
*Will Desperate Housewives be back next season?
*Celebrity Apprentice: New celebrities announced
*Glee
*American Idol: Format changes. I go on a mini-rant about the band. And Fantasia's court drama
*Survivor: Redemption Island, new castaways announced
*Grey's Anatomy
*Harry Potter: The latest Box Office numbers, JKR prevails!
*Narnia: The latest Box Office numbers
*Twilight: We know where Breaking Dawn will split the movies
*Hobbit: Casting announcements, LOTR cast members return!
*Golden Globes: T.W.O.'s Predictions
*My Recommendations...Or Not

To download this latest episode, click HERE to visit TV Watch Online's MediaFire download page, where you can also find every episode, including my interview with Mahsa from Episode #26.

Welcome to the New T.W.O. BLOG!

Welcome to the new TV Watch Online BLOG! As I mentioned in Episode 26 of the TV Watch Online Show podcast, I would start out the new year by combining the two blogs (T.W.O. BLOG and Interviews Blog) into one main blog containing announcements, news, American Idol and America's Got Talent commentaries, and interviews. Since the Interviews Blog was not updated as often, there was no point in keeping it as its own blog. And I decided to host the main blog here on Blogger because I favor the format and tools available here over the Tripod one.

And also to celebrate the start of 2011, here are changes I have made to the main T.W.O. site:

• With how few Harry Potter book-related news articles there are nowadays, I have decided to combine the two Potter pages into one main HP page, set up in the same fashion as The Twilight Saga page (combining book and movie news). Link: Harry Potter
• The Heroes and Ugly Betty pages are no longer available to view, since those shows are not on the air anymore and there is no more news coming in regarding those shows; you can still view their respective Article Archives pages. (The Lost page may still be around for another month or so until we find out the results of any awards the show is nominated for).
• All the 'Remembering...' pages have been combined into one 'In Memoriam' page, remembering TV shows that have gone off the air; visit that page to find out how you can leave your comments on Kyle XY, Heroes, Ugly Betty, and Lost. Link: In Memoriam
• The order of TV shows on the navigation bar has been updated to reflect the schedule for midseason (The Apprentice has been moved near the top for its return to Sunday nights; American Idol moved down one spot for its move to Wednesdays/Thursdays).
• Finally, the 'About the Movie' section at the bottom of The Twilight Saga page has been updated for Breaking Dawn.

If you would like to become a guest contributor to this blog, feel free to e-mail me.

And if you haven't listened to my interview with The Apprentice contestant Mahsa, click HERE and download Episode 26 of the T.W.O. Show podcast for free.

Happy New Year to everyone!

Harry Potter: The Exhibition in Seattle - Tickets on Sale Tomorrow

[The following Media Alert was provided by the Media & Public Relations department at the Pacific Science Center in Seattle, WA.]
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MEDIA ALERT

TICKETS TO HARRY POTTER™: THE EXHIBITION AT PACIFIC SCIENCE CENTER GO ON SALE TO THE PUBLIC SATURDAY, AUGUST 14, 2010

Harry Potter: The Exhibition to Open in Seattle October 23, 2010

WHAT:           Pacific Science Center is pleased to announce that tickets to Harry Potter: The Exhibition go on sale to the general public on Saturday, August 14 at 10 a.m.  The exhibition requires a time-entry ticket and guests are encouraged to purchase their tickets early to ensure the best date and time.

In the exhibit, guests will be able to experience dramatic displays inspired by the Harry Potter film sets and see the amazing craftsmanship behind authentic costumes and props from the films.  Harry Potter: The Exhibition will run in Seattle through January 30, 2011.

Pacific Science Center is the only West Coast venue and the last planned U.S. destination for the exhibition.

WHEN:           Saturday, August 14, 2010
Tickets for the exhibition can be purchased at the Science Center box office, through the website at pacificsciencecenter.org or by phone at (206) 443-2001.

WHERE:  Pacific Science Center, 200 Second Ave. North, Seattle, WA 98109
       We are located on the south side of the Seattle Center campus on Denny Way and Second Ave North. Parking is available in the James Albert Claypool Memorial Garage. The three-story garage is located at the corner of Second Avenue North and Denny Way.

DETAILS:        General public admission to Harry Potter: The Exhibition is $26 for adults; $24 for seniors (65 and over) and youth (6-15); $17 for children (ages 3-5) and includes admission to all of Pacific Science Center’s exhibits.  Members receive discounted admission.

TM & © Warner Bros. Entertainment Inc.  Harry Potter Publishing Rights © J.K. Rowling.
(s10)
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[Webmaster Note: I live in the same state that this final exhibition stop will be taking place in. Sometime during it's run, I hope to be able to attend Harry Potter: The Exhibition and review it for TV Watch Online. Once in a while, you may see me provide information regarding the Seattle stop like the one above because of my close proximity to the location (and the fact that I'm in contact with the media & public relations department).]