Home Alone (1990)

For most people, watching this 1990 classic is a holiday tradition

Summary

-A young boy, left home by mistake by his family, who were en route to Paris for the holidays, defends his home against two bumbling burglars during Christmas Eve

Cast

-Macaulay Culkin: Kevin

-John Heard: Peter

-Catherine O'Hara: Kate

-Joe Pesci: Harry

-Daniel Stern: Marv

-Roberts Blossom: Old Man Marley

-Angela Goethals: Linnie

-Devin Ratray: Buzz

-Hillary Wolf: Megan

-Gerry Banman: Uncle Frank

-John Candy: Gus Polinski

-Kristen Minter: Heather

-Kieran Culkin: Fuller

-Terrie Snell: Aunt Leslie

Did You Know?

-On set, Joe Pesci purposely avoided Macaulay Culkin because he wanted Culkin to think he was legitimately mean

-As of 2014, Macaulay Culkin still refers to Catherine O'Hara as "Mom"

-Both Joe Pesci and Daniel Stern felt different about how the movie would turn out. So they both did over the top performances during shooting, not believing the movie would turn out as successfully as it did

-During an interview with Entertainment Weekly, Joe Pesci told them "Mac is not like a nine year old. He's an old man already." Everyone else on set was stunned by how professional and mature Macaulay Culkin was

-Despite insisting the lines in the script be delivered as written, John Hughes, the producer, allowed John Candy to improvise his lines

-The stunt double for Macaulay Culkin was a very short 30 year old man

-Roberts Blossom, who played Old Man Marley, considered this to be a high point of his career. People would stop him on the street and ask "Aren't you the guy..."

-When the original music composer stepped out, John Williams stepped in. Despite never meeting director Chris Columbus, Williams saw an early cut of the film and was amazed and happily offered his services

-During takes, Macaulay Culkin would sleep on the ground if he got tired

-As a kid, Chris Columbus feared burglars. As such, it's a part of why he wanted to make a movie involving burglars

-Because of child labor laws, Macaulay Culkin was only allowed to work five hours a day

-In order to get Macaulay Culkin to memorize the lines, Chris Columbus made him a promise to let him play with his Nintendo system and it worked

-The success of this movie and the following sequel, Home Alone 2: Lost in New York provided Chris Columbus the opportunity to move on to other films, including the first two films of the massively successful Harry Potter series and Mrs. Doubtfire

-Originally, the role of mean Uncle Frank was written with actor Kelsey Grammer in mind

-The actor who played Kevin's cousin Fuller is actually Macaulay Culkin's real life brother Kieran Culkin, who made his acting debut in this movie

-The exterior shots of the McCallister house was filmed in front of a house in a suburb on the outskirts of Chicago. The interior shots of the home was built inside an old, abandoned high school

-The police station was actually an office in a high school

-Sandra Macat, who played the Santa's elf Kevin encounters, appeared in Home Alone 2: Lost in New York, playing a flight attendant

-Harry Lyme, the character Joe Pesci played, got his name from the Orson Welles movie The Third Man (1949)

-The scene where Marv had the tarantula on his face was done in one take. The spider trainer told Daniel Stern that if he screamed, it would startle the spider and cause it to attack. Daniel Stern had to do the scene and do a silent scream while the scream audio was added in at a later time

-During the scene where Kevin is staging a Christmas party at his home, to fool the burglars into thinking his family is still there, he is wearing an orange speaker-like item around his neck. This is a laugh box, a 1970s-era novelty item that produces the laughter heard in the scene. While difficult to hear over the music, it's heard far better in the scene where the mannequin is spinning on the record player

-The flag on the wall above Kevin's bed is the flag for Chicago, where the movie was filmed. This flag is also featured on the uniforms of the Chicago Police Department

-Alan Rickman was one of the considered actors to play the role of Harry Lyme. He had worked with Bonnie Bedelia, who is Macaulay Culkin's aunt in the 1988 film Die Hard

-While Peter and Kate are trying to get a flight home to Chicago from a French AA ticket agent, an Eastern Air Lines Boeing 727 is seen in the background. Despite being done at Paris Orly Airport, it was actually filmed at a terminal of Chicago's O'Hare International Airport. Eastern Air Lines never did any Europe-based flights or other international flights. Trans World Airlines (TWA) and Pan American World Airways (Pan Am) did more international flights in the 1980s

-Despite people thinking that this film seemed realistic in how police would treat a "home alone" situation, writers and producers actually worked with a real Chicago police officer named Jeff Jefferson. He had assisted the writers and producers and wrote the police scenes. Ironically, five years later, Jeff Jefferson himself would be arrested by police for child neglect after it was discovered he left his own children alone for the last six years

-The airport attendant taking the tickets for the McCallister family never asked why there was a person missing from their group. It was because Peter had mistakenly thrown away Kevin's ticket after cleaning up the spilled milk from the previous night. This led to the attendant counting as many people as she'd received tickets for

-The plumbing van Harry and Marv drive says Oh-Kay Plumbing with the slogan "Your flood control experts." It's ironic because they are known as the Wet Bandits, who flood houses with water running from faucets after running them

-The ornaments Marv steps on were made of sugar. He insisted on stepping on them barefoot and the screaming reaction was not real, just acting

-The reason there is a Michael Jordan cardboard cutout featured in this movie is because Michael Jordan is Macaulay Culkin's favorite basketball player

-In addition to home invasion and burglary, Harry Lyme commits another crime-impersonating a police officer

-The Funko POP! company released figures of Kevin McCallister and Harry Lyme

-31 years after this movie was released, on December 23, 2021, Devin Ratray, who played Buzz, was arrested by police after it discovered that he tried to strangle his girlfriend in a hotel room

-Michael Douglas, Kevin Costner, Charles Grodin, Jim Belushi, Christopher Lloyd, Rick Moranis, Alan Thicke, Jeff Daniels, John Ritter, Ed O'Neill, among many others, were considered for the role of Peter McCallister, Kevin's dad

-Diane Keaton, Holly Hunter, Glenn Close, Linda Hamilton, Helen Hunt, Laura Dern, Anjelica Huston, Annie Potts, Maureen McCormick, Mary Steenburgen, among many others, were considered for the role of Kate McCallister, Kevin's mom

-Joe Pesci is known for heavy profanity in his films. He had to work extra hard to avoid using any profanity in this film, since it was a family Christmas film

-When Kevin looks through Buzz's steamer trunk at the end of his bed, he finds a picture of Buzz's girlfriend. He proceeds to say "Buzz! Your girlfriend. Woof!" The picture is actually of art director Dan Webster's son, who was made up to look like a girl. Chris Columbus thought it would be too cruel to make fun of a girl like that

-The Playboy magazine Kevin finds had pages taped together so Macaulay Culkin wouldn't see any nudity. The issue was from July 1989

-The movie Kevin watches, Angels with Filthy Souls, was not a real movie. It was specially created. It was a play on words of the classic 1938 James Cagney film Angels with Dirty Faces

-While rehearsing the scene where Joe Pesci attempts to bite off Macaulay Culkin's finger, Joe Pesci actually bit Macaulay, leaving a small scar

-For any of the barefoot scenes, Daniel Stern wore rubber feet. Much the same way that Bruce Willis did as John McClane in 1988's Die Hard

-While filming, Macaulay Culkin came down with a cold. He was given time off to recover, except for one part. While attempting to buy a toothbrush, his voice is hoarse, he is pale and his eyes were red and puffy from watering so much

-To strongly promote that this was a Christmas movie, red and green are the prominent colors featured all throughout the movie

-When Kevin talks to "Santa", the car he is getting into was a 1980 Honda Civic hatchback. It did actually stall out as the actor was attempting to drive away

-Despite being a family movie, Daniel Stern accidentally swore. He said the "s" word when getting his boot through the dog door. It can be heard in this scene

-The rundown look for Harry and Marv was based on Fagin, the iconic thief in Charles Dickens' classic story Oliver Twist

-When leaving the house to go to the airport, Uncle Frank complains that the flight to Paris leaves in 45 minutes and that they would never make it. In reality, the journey from the house to Chicago's O'Hare International Airport would take only about 29 minutes. Since this was done before 9/11, security was much more relaxed and only consisted of belt-fed x-ray machines for luggage. Not only that, anyone could go all the way to the departure gates without so much as a boarding pass

-In an interview, when Devin Ratray, who played Buzz, was asked what happened to Buzz later in life, he replied that he probably went to prison. Ironically, Ratray was arrested in 2021 for domestic assault and battery against his then girlfriend and a few years later, a suspected rape

-Old Man Marley is a tribute to Jacob Marley, one of the old business partners of Ebenezer Scrooger in the classic Charles Dickens' story A Christmas Carol

-The inventions Kevin used to fend off the burglars were inspired by Chris Columbus' love of inventions. These types of inventions also appeared in 1984's Gremlins, 1985's The Goonies, 1985's Young Sherlock Holmes, which were produced by Steven Spielberg. Both Spielberg and Columbus are big fans of the James Bond films

-The item Kevin uses to heat up the front doorknob is an electric charcoal tool for barbecue grills

-When Kevin goes after Buzz for eating all of the cheese pizza, milk gets spilled and a plane ticket on the counter gets coated in milk. When Peter is cleaning up, he accidentally throws away a plane ticket, which happened to belong to Kevin. The ticket is seen with Kevin's name on it. The following morning, Kevin is left home alone because his cousin is doing a head count and counts the nosy neighbor kid, thinking it was Kevin

-The July 1989 Playboy issue Kevin finds in Buzz's steamer trunk featured actress Erika Eleniak for Miss July. This same issue was featured in 1992's Under Siege, which also featured Erika Eleniak

-Journalists had asked medical professionals if the Wet Bandits would have survived any of the injuries they sustained. The medical professionals stated these were life threatening injuries and that they would not likely survive the injuries

-When Kevin is banished to the attic, there is a pull out sofa bed. There is no visible insulation in the rafters, which would leave the attic, in Chicago temperatures, sub-zero cold. This would not be an ideal place to sleep

-Prior to eating the macaroni and cheese he prepared, Kevin crosses his chest after praying, suggesting that he and his family are either Catholic or Episcopal

15 Annoying Habits Practiced By Americans Dining Abroad

Some Americans, not all of them, but some seem to think that when they dine abroad, the wait staff will have no problem doing this or that. This type of annoying behavior is what gives other Americans, those who actually do what they are supposed to do, a bad name. According to MSN.com writer Dana Wolk, here are 15 annoying habits made by Americans dining abroad

When travelling abroad, eating like the locals only heightens the experience of the trip. It allows you to meet the locals and even make a friend or two. Just remember not to act like the "ugly American tourist" and do what the locals do, and you'll be good to go. Like the old saying goes, "When in Rome, do as the Romans do". This means that you follow what everyone does. You follow the customs of those around you

1. Ignoring local customs

-Every country has customs on eating. For example, in some countries, tipping could be considered offensive. Take some time to learn about the local etiquette. This will show that you respect the local culture and only heightens your experience. Even ask locals what the local dining etiquette is. They will gladly tell you to avoid making errors

2. Requesting any sort of modification

-First things first, remember that you are in a different country. The food will be different. The wait staff may not change things for you. American tourists often ask for vast changes in food, which frustrates the wait staff. The way the food is made is highly important to the local culture. Instead of asking for the food to be modified, embrace the dish as it is served

3. Being loud

-You may as well scream from the heavens "I'm American!" Americans have a tendency to be loud talkers. In other countries, low speaking is the thing to do. It's often considered impolite and poor manners. Speak using your "indoor voice" so that a pleasant dining experience can be had by all around

4. Ignoring dress codes

-Some restaurants do have certain dress codes that must be adhered to. The fine dining restaurants are especially included. Casual or inappropriate attire might cause you to be prevented from entering. And it can even be seen as disrespectful. Do some research in to what the dress codes are and dress accordingly to show respect for the standards of the restaurant and local culture

5. Underestimating portion sizes

-America is the only country, it seems, where "bigger is better". Which is why America is also stereotyped as being fat. Because of the bigger portions offered, obesity is such a raging problem. Other countries don't believe in big portions. Other countries believe in smaller portions and it's part of the dining culture. Rather than moan about not having enough food, enjoy the small portions

6. Using phones at the table

-This is something some Americans seem to be adept at. Using your phone at the dining table. This can be seen as rude. Many cultures emphasize dining as a time for family, socializing and enjoying the meal with no distractions. Keep your phone on silent or completely off and don't use it unless needed. This will help keep you focused on conversing with your table mates and show respect to the restaurant

7. Assuming all menus will be in English

-Another thing to remember: you are in a foreign country!! Yes, it might be safe to assume that some may know English and that English might be offered as a language in those countries, but it's not safe to assume everyone will speak English. That goes for menus too. The menus at restaurants will be in that language. It would be wise to learn a few words or phrases in that language prior to traveling to that country. Even if you mispronounce it, the locals will be flattered you took the time to learn their language. When in doubt, ask the locals what the proper word is to avoid mispronouncing it again. Use a language translation app if your fluency is not up to scratch. This will show respect for the local language

8. Overtipping

-Tipping is something commonly done in America to show gratitude for good service. Not all countries believe in tipping because they already get good money from working. Some countries even consider tipping offensive. Overtipping can make some locals uncomfortable. In some countries, the tip is even included in the bill. Do some research into local tipping practices and adjust as such. This will show your appreciation in a culturally appropriate way

9. Expecting fast service

-Most people in America expect "right here, right now" service. You are in for a rude awakening overseas. Many countries see dining as a leisurely experience and draw it out for enjoyment. Be patient and enjoy the experience of dining overseas. Being patient will not only put you in the good graces of the locals, but it will show that you respect the cultural norms of that country and also allow you a good experience in dining abroad

10. Criticizing food

-Each country has its own unique delicacies and food. They might sound gross or disgusting to most Americans, but to the locals, it's an every day thing. Making negative comments about them is not only rude, but disrespectful. Remember, you are a guest of that country, and as such, you must eat what is offered or ordered. Don't focus on what you don't like. Instead, appreciate the diversity of the food. Try something that sounds interesting. Compliment the food when the server comes to you. This will show respect to the local culture and heighten your travel experience

11. Failing to respect queues

-Queues is a term typically used in Europe, to describe lines of people. In most foreign cultures, it's considered respectful to wait your turn in line. Cutting in front of someone or not following the proper etiquette is not only rude, but completely disrespectful. Wait your turn. Be patient. Follow the local customs on waiting in line. This helps maintain order and avoid chaos. It also shows respect for the local rules on waiting in line

12. Bringing outside food

-Bringing food from an outside restaurant to another restaurant is pointless. Why bring food from one place to another place that also serves food? It's straight impolite, inconsiderate. It can also violate health codes and disrupt the dining experience for others. If you're going to a restaurant, enjoy the food and drink offered there. This helps you respect the policies for the restaurant and helps keep the happy mood in the restaurant for others

13. Overusing condiments

-Using high amounts of condiments, in many countries, can be seen as disrespectful to the chef, who lovingly prepared the meal that sits before you. Try the food as it is before you prior to adding additional spice or sauce. This shows you respect the skills of the chef and allows you to enjoy the meal as intended

14. Not paying attention to dietary restrictions

-Restaurant staff can often find it frustrating or irritating when they encounter someone who has a dietary restriction, such as a food allergy, and it's only frustrating when they were not told in advance. If you have a dietary restriction, inform the restaurant in advance or talk privately with the staff upon arrival. This will help ensure that not only will your dietary restrictions be protected, but also the restaurant's ability to accommodate it

15. Ignoring local eating habits

-In some countries, there are specific habits for eating. They eat at certain times or use certain utensils. Not respecting these customs is rude and disrespectful. Take some time to learn the local customs and follow the same eating practices as others around you. This will not only show respect to the restaurant and staff and those around you, but will heighten your travel experience

15 Things NOT to do in Japan

Japan is a strongly historical country, rich in culture, history and more. They have traditions and customs they have upheld for hundreds, if not thousands of years. Tourists to this country should be aware of any social cues they need to follow to avoid sticking out or offending the locals. According to MSN.com writer Orgesta Tolaj, here are 15 things to avoid doing in Japan.

Here are some thing you must take into consideration

Consideration on the Streets

-Good manners and consideration for others is highly prized in Japan. This includes behavior.

Consideration in restaurants

-In Japan, restaurants will show plastic or wax models of the food they serve. They also provide menus to entice or inform patrons of the cuisine they offer. These can be helpful to those who may not speak Japanese or those who do speak it, but are not up to conversational standards

Consideration for Shrines and Temples

-Shrines and temples are very common in Japan. It's a very religious country, with respect for the dead being top priority. When visiting a shrine or temple, behave properly and respectfully. Show respect by making a short prayer and putting a coin into the offering box. Some temples burn incense. Purchase some incense, light it and wave it out before putting it in the burner. Do a short prayer right after

1. Don't tip

-Leaving tips is not customary. Service workers take pride in their work, and often tips are included in their pay. Saying thank you is sufficient. If you want to offer a tip, use an envelope or designated tray. Also, counting money in front of the seller or service worker is considered impolite

2. Do not eat or drink in public spaces

-This is considered a no-no in Japan. It's considered poor manners. When eating and drinking in Japan, do it in the designated spots, like tables in restaurants. It's all down to cleanliness and being a responsible person for disposing of trash responsibly

3. Don't honk your horn

-Japan is a most humble country. They pride themselves on being patient, with good manners and good humility. Patience and polite manners even extend to traffic. Which is why you will never hear someone honking their horn. This is part of maintaining harmony and serenity in every day life

4. Don't point fingers

-Pointing fingers can be seen as impolite. When asking for directions, make sure not to point fingers. Use your whole hand for verbal communication. Tourists can also get a kick out of vending machines selling all sorts of items, from fresh vegetables to electronics

5. Hide the tattoos

-While tattoos are common elsewhere, Japan is a conservative country where tattoos are not always seen on display. And those in Japan who do have tattoos hide them. Tourists with tattoos may face restrictions on certain places, like pools and spas. But they can also receive admiration from locals when displayed. The reason for the restrictions in some places is strongly due to the cultural connection between tattoos and the Yakuza, better known as the Japanese Mafia. They are known for heavy body tattooing

6. Leave dropped items where they are

-There is a strong emphasis on respecting lost items in Japan. While tourists might have good intentions on preventing someone from stealing a lost item, it's just better to leave them where they are. Instead, slightly alter your good intentions. Instead of picking up the item, simply move it to a more visible area, making it easier for the owner to find. Valuable items can also be taken to the nearest police station

7. Don't talk loudly on public transportation

-Nothing screams tourist more than talking loudly. Most public transportation in Japan is quiet, like a library. Passengers will speak in soft voices. This is in respect to the commuters who may fall asleep. Keep the volume down to ensure maximum comfort for all who ride

8. Don't just carry credit cards. Carry cash too

-Not all businesses in Japan take credit card. Some take cash only. Some do a combination. It's good to carry both cash and a credit card to make sure you are able to pay. Check far in advance to make sure you know if cashless payment is an option

9. No shoes inside

-In Japan, it's customary to remove shoes prior to entering a home or business. There is a special area called genkan, where shoes are removed to keep cleanliness high. Some restaurants and medical facilities also have this designated area. Look for a step-up or a specific flooring area as a signal to remove shoes. Neatly place your shoes to the side facing the door. This is considered a sign of good Japanese manners

10. Don't jaywalk

-For those unfamiliar with this term, jaywalking refers to the action of crossing a street not using a designated crosswalk. In other words, crossing the street anywhere but the crosswalk. In Japan, because the streets are so busy, jaywalking is considered illegal and unsafe. This can result in a visit from the local police. It's important to use the designated crosswalks. Obeying traffic laws helps maintain order and show respect for the law in Japanese society

11. Don't insert chopsticks vertically into rice bowls

-If you know anything about Buddhist funeral rituals, it's usually known that incense is inserted vertically into bowls while burning. It's considered a respectful rite at funerals. Sticking your chopsticks into rice bowls vertically, however, is considered bad manners. Also, when serving rice, avoid piling it like a mountain. This makes it resemble a grave. For chopsticks, simply lay them at the side of your bowl. This would be considered the proper way to handle chopsticks

12. No smoking on the streets

-Smoking is prohibited on the streets of Japan. There are designated areas to light up in urban areas. Drinking in public, however, is allowed. Laws have relaxed in years past concerning public alcohol consumption in parks and public places. It's not uncommon to enjoy a cold drink while watching the cherry blossoms

13. Shower BEFORE entering the onsen

-Prior to your entering the onsen, or "hot spring", you must shower and clean yourself thoroughly. You must use the designated areas to clean yourself. The shower facilities at onsen are state of the art, with high quality soap, shampoo and conditioner. The quality of the products often relates to the quality of the onsen.

-Warning: If you have tattoos, there's a pretty high chance that you may be restricted from entering. In Japan, tattoos have a strong cultural connection to the Yakuza, or Japanese Mafia. These organized crime figures, in particular, are known for all over body tattooing, which they cover up with high-buttoned shirts. Contact the onsen prior to your visit to see what they have in terms of policies for tattoos. They may ask you to simply cover them up with something. This is to avoid offending the locals. And, most likely, if you tell them that you have tattoos and that you wish to respect their wishes by covering them up, that will show you genuinely respect their culture and also put you in their good graces

14. Do not pluck flowers

-Japan is one of the most beautiful countries in the world. They have a stunning array of wildlife, flowers and more. Their parks are something out of a National Geographic book or magazine because they are so beautiful. Instead of plucking flowers in parks, capture their beauty by taking photos. If you do want flowers, most flower shops do offer varieties of options, including Sakura

15. Always be aware of train times

-Trains in Japan do not run into the late night hours, even in the urban areas. Prior to planning a late night out, make sure you have a plan of how to get to your hotel, whether it be cab, train or your own two feet. Check the last train schedule on Google Maps to keep yourself from being stranded. And some cabs will charge exorbitant fees for late night runs

7 Mistakes Flight Attendants See Passengers Making Frequently

Flight attendants see and hear it all. They often have to deal with everything, from irate passengers to passengers forgetting something, such as a diaper for a baby or an inhaler for an asthmatic patient. A flight attendant named CiCi lists 7 mistakes she has witnessed made by passengers on a frequent basis

By the way, if you see things in parentheses, I've witnessed this myself and have a story related to it.

1. Packing the bag so full it can't fit into the overhead bin

-A lot of airlines have been cracking down on this. If your carryon bag cannot fit into the box they have prior to check in, you need to evaluate what you have in there and put it in your checked in luggage. Flight attendants have been repeatedly asked by passengers to have assistance lifting them into the overhead bin. If flight attendants injure themselves doing this, they can't get worker's compensation because policies firmly state that flight attendants should not be assisting passengers to lift items into overhead bins. Some airlines, like Frontier Airlines and Hawaiian Airlines, have recently updated their carry on bag policy. It dictates how much your suitcase can weigh and the size of it. If it's over the size of a backpack, you must pay oversize bag fees (Did this two years ago. I had to pay my stepdad's oversize bag fee because he had a suitcase, a small one that claimed to fit under seats. It did, but it didn't fit into the box at the boarding gate for Frontier Airlines, who we were flying through to go to Mexico. I offered to pay it at the boarding gate. I worried the representative would need a physical payment card on hand, but I told her that, while I didn't have my payment card on hand, I memorized the number, security number on the back and expiration date. My sister had to use her phone to connect to the app to do it. We were able to successfully allow me to pay for my stepdad's oversize bag fees both ways. My mom even relaxed and breathed a sigh of relief, "You saved our vacation!" she said! I'm thinking about making sure I memorize my current card info just in case. Or take it with me. My mom wanted me to wait until a family arguing with the boarding clerk had left because of security issues. She didn't want that family overhearing my card information.)

2. Stop bringing more than two bags on the plane

-CiCi has witnessed a lot of passengers bringing multiple bags on the plane. A carry on, such as a duffel bag or backpack is fine. But when you're bringing a duffel back, a backpack, purse and more, then it's getting excessive. She has witnessed people carrying purses, a backpack and a rolling wheel suitcase. That's too much. Airline rules have begun asking passengers to consolidate into two bags. Most airlines only allow one bag in the overhead bin and one under the seat in front of the passenger. Some airlines even charge fees for extra luggage because it adds extra weight on to the plane, and may take away room for other people's luggage. (If I do bring a purse, it's a small cross body one that can easily fold and be put in my carry on. Whenever I go on vacation, my default purse is a small, black cross body bag that says Iron Maiden on it)

3. Essentials not being easily available can cause boarding delays

-CiCi has witnessed people tootling around for their essentials prior to flight. A good tip is to keep all of the things you will need in a carry on that is easily accessible. Use a backpack as a carry on because it's easy to access from under the seat in front of you and you can access all of your needs. CiCi has said that people put the items they need, like books, earbuds, etc., in to their suitcase, which causes delays. People who have to filter through their suitcase to get their essentials holds other passengers up and causes delays. (Pro travel tip: use a backpack and put everything you need in there. Not only are backpacks lightweight and effective, but you can put everything you need in there and stow it under the seat in front of you. Since I end going to all inclusive resorts with my family, packing is down to a science for me. My carry on is a green and blue tie dyed backpack and in it, I put my sunglasses, camera, a couple of books, my passport holder and passport, a swimsuit, cover up, flip flops, a hat and some bandanas. The only thing I don't put there is sunblock; I wait until we get to the resort to get it out of my suitcase prior to it being taken to my room)

4. Many passengers don't pack their liquids correctly

-CiCi has witnessed, many times, how passengers think that it's okay to pack tanning oil or sunblock into your carry on or other bags. The changing pressures in the airplane can cause liquids to leak in carry ons due to gases expanding. Nowadays, you find TSA-approved bottles at the store that are the right size for going through TSA. CiCi recommends squeezing all of the air out of the bottle to prevent expansion. She said bottles with screw on caps are more successful than snap tops. That they create a tight seal. (True story. The first time me and my sister went to Mexico was in 2016. While we were checking in at the Frontier Airlines desk, my stepdad accidentally put his tanning oil into his carry on. The rep behind the desk asked him to put the tanning oil into his suitcase. He fixed it and the rep told him thank you for fixing it. She explained that sometimes leaks can occur and they have to comply with rules, which my stepdad not only understood, but respected because he travelled more than me, my sister and mom combined)

5. Not packing a reusable water bottle

-According to the Aerospace Medical Association, travelers should consume 8oz of water each hour on the plane. You can bring a reusable water bottle on the plane with you. Simply fill it up in the airport terminal. Staying hydrated is a key factor in avoiding leg cramps, dehydration and more.

6. Passengers not packing their own snacks

-Lately, airlines have been charging for snacks. It's better to bring your own. Because of turbulence, flight attendants are not always able to be up and about handing out free bags of peanuts or dried fruit. If flight attendants are not able to get up, passengers don't get food or drinks. That's why you pack snacks. Allegiant Air and Frontier Airlines have rid themselves completely of the complimentary snacks and started charging for them. CiCi suggests bringing your own food. And if you're diabetic, it's especially of the utmost importance to have something on hand, to keep your sugar up

7. Packing heavy items instead of wearing them on the plane

-CiCi says she sees passengers packing heavy items instead of wearing them on the plane. If all you have is a carry on, simply wear the heavy items instead of packing them. So that you'll already have them ready in case you need them. She said that on a recent flight to Italy, she wore her bulky rain boots, a sweater and jacket, despite flying out of hot, humid Florida. She said this was a pro space-saving tip and she could pack more outfits in her suitcase

Rick Allen breaks silence over assault outside of hotel

Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen is recovering in his hometown of Sheffield, England after being physically assaulted by a 19 year old.

While coming out of a Four Seasons hotel in Florida, a 19 year old named Max Hartley physically assaulted Def Leppard drummer Rick Allen. During an interview on Good Morning America, he said "I heard a couple of steps and then I just saw this [flash] and the next thing I knew I was on the ground. I landed on my backside...hit my head on the pavement."

"I am no threat to you." he said to the 19 year old, who had seemed to appear out of thin and tackled the one armed drummer to the ground. He continued. "I don't think he knew who I was, but he must have seen that I wasn't a threat because, you know, I've only got one arm." He referenced the near fatal car crash from 1984 that took his left arm

Rick Allen was doing nothing more than standing outside the Four Seasons, smoking a cigarette on March 13 when the 19 year old, who'd been seen hiding behind a nearby pole, ran towards Allen and knocked him down. In the resulting fall, Allen hit his head on the pavement, causing injury, according to the Florida police. A female hotel guest came out to try and aid Allen, but Hartley allegedly went after her too. He grabbed her and threw her to the ground before repeatedly hitting her. She was able to get in to the hotel to get help. But Hartley dragged her back outside and continued battering her.

The suspect had fled the area, but was caught not long afterwards. He was charged with two counts of battery and four counts of criminal mischief, where he plead not guilty. Allen's wife Lauren Monroe found out about her husband being assaulted when she was halfway across the country. While on Good Morning America, Lauren said "My heart just completely sank into me. I know the journey of trauma...And so everything stopped in our house and focused on him." Rick Allen is incredibly thankful to have a wife as caring as Lauren. He stated "I immediately just went to that place of feeling grateful for the fact that I have an amazing wife and an incredible family and I just started thanking a higher power for the fact that I'm still here."

After the attack, Allen is focused on recovering and his drumming. He said "I know that I'm not going to be playing music in a band forever. But while I am, I plan on making as many people happy as I possibly can. And this is my time. This is my opportunity."

She's All That (1999)

This movie is like a film version of the famed story Pygmalion

Summary

-A popular high school jock makes a bet with a friend that he can turn the school's nerdiest girl into the reigning prom queen

Cast

-Freddie Prinze Jr.: Zack Siler

-Rachel Leigh Cook: Laney Boggs

-Matthew Lillard: Brock Hudson

-Paul Walker: Dean Sampson

-Jodi Lynn O'Keefe: Taylor Vaughan

-Kevin Pollak: Wayne Boggs

-Anna Paquin: Mackenzie Siler

-Kieran Culkin: Simon Boggs

-Elden Henson: Jesse Jackson

-Lil Kim: Alex

-Usher: Campus DJ

-Dule Hill: Preston

-Tim Matheson: Harlan Siler

Did You Know?

-The high school used in this film is the same high school used on the TV show Buffy the Vampire Slayer

-Zach tells his dad that he does not want to attend his father's alma matter, Dartmouth. His dad, played by Tim Matheson, was in the film National Lampoon's Animal House. That film was inspired by some of the writers attending Dartmouth University. At the end of Animal House, when it is describing what each character went on to do, Matheson's character was said to have moved to California to become a doctor, which is the profession he's in in this film

-The photo Laney has of her mother is actress Bonnie Bedelia, who, in real life, is the aunt of Kieran Culkin who played Lacey's younger brother Simon

-Rachel Leigh Cook's character name Laney Boggs is a combination of two of Winona Ryder's characters. Kim Boggs in the film Edward Scissorhands and Lelaina "Laney" Pierce in Reality Bites. Both Rachel Leigh Cook and Winona Ryder are said to be physically similar to each other

-Leelee Sobieski, Mena Suvari and Jordana Brewster auditioned for the role of Laney Boggs

-Freddie Prinze Jr. and Matthew Lillard appeared in another movie together. The film adaptation of the classic cartoon Scooby Doo. Freddie Prinze Jr. played Fred while Matthew Lillard played Shaggy. Those films also featured Sarah Michelle Gellar as redheaded Daphne

-Simon Boggs (Kieran Culkin) is often seen wearing hearing aids in both ears

-Lil Kim's acting debut

-Freddie Prinze Jr's future wife, Sarah Michelle Gellar, has a small cameo in this film. She's asking Simon if they need pepper

-Kevin Pollak is seen wearing a baseball hat throughout the whole film

Chicago PD

This is a very popular television show depicting the life and times of a police precinct in Chicago. Very frequently, you'll see characters from the television show Chicago Fire on here. This show and Chicago Fire have very frequent crossovers, which means that the characters from one show will appear on the other and vice versa.

Summary

-The life and times of two different groups of people in the District 21 of the Chicago Police Department: the Intelligence Unit and the uniform police

Cast

-Jason Beghe: Hank Voight

-Patrick John Flueger: Adam Ruzek

-Marina Squerciati: Kim Burgess

-LaRoyce Hawkins: Kevin Atwater

-Amy Morton: Trudy Platt

-Jesse Lee Soffer: Jay Halstead

-Jon Seda: Antonio Dawson

-Tracy Spiridakos: Hailey Upton

-Elias Koteas: Alvin Olinsky

-Sophia Bush: Erin Lindsay

Did You Know?

-Prior to filming the show, the actors and actresses trained with real Chicago police officers and retired SWAT personnel

-The characters on this show will often appear on other shows by creator Dick Wolf, such as Chicago Fire, Chicago Med, Chicago Justice and Law & Order: Special Victims Unit because their story continues on those programs

-Each episode's title is taken from dialogue spoken in that episode

-Out of the entire cast, there are only two cast members who were actually born and raised in the Chicago area: LaRoyce Hawkins, who plays Kevin Atwater, and Amy Morton, who plays Trudy Platt

-Brian Tee, who plays Dr. Ethan Choi on Chicago Med, first appeared as a gang leader on an episode of Chicago PD called "The Three Gs"

-In the squad room, there is an alphanumeric cryptic code next to each suspect's photo, for example M/1/19. This refers to the gender of the suspect (male/female). The third part is the suspect's age. The second part refers to, according to a Chicago Police Directive, racial identification being given a code number. 1-Black, 2-White, 3-Black/Hispanic, 4-white/Hispanic, 5-Native American/Alaskan Native, 6-Asian/Pacific Islander

-The Investigative Response Team or IRT is the department within the Chicago Police Department's Detective's Bureau who investigates officer-involved shootings

-While on TV shows such as In the Heat of the Night (1988), violence was exaggerated, murders being committed every week. This show is different; there is a lot more crime in Chicago than what is depicted

-There is a lot of police acronyms and terminology used on the show and the actors and actresses had to learn to correctly use the police terminology

I'm Glad I Did by Cynthia Weil

I recently finished this book. Even though it was for teens, books for teens and kids can sometimes be fun reads. As long as it's a book, I usually don't care about the age; it's the storyline that usually attracts me

Summary

-Justice "JJ" Green is an aspiring songwriter. In a family full of attorneys. That's basically like saying you want to run away and join the circus. She applies for and gets a three month temp job at the Brill Building, a famous music factory that churns out legends like Carole King. When there, she meets a handsome boy named Luke Silver and a custodian who was a former legendary singer named Dulcie Brown. One day, dark events occur involving Dulcie Brown and both JJ and Luke work together to solve these dark events. As the investigation continues, things come out into the open involving Dulcie and the people surrounding her. JJ just has to get out before she gets in too deep

FBI (2018-)

This show, created by Law & Order creator Dick Wolf, follows a team of FBI agents in a New York field office

Summary

-The show centers around the various cases worked by the FBI's New York-based field office

Cast

-Missy Peregrym: Special Agent Maggie Bell

-Zeeko Zaki: Special Agent Omar Adom "OA" Zidan

-Jeremy Sisto: Asst Special Agent in Charge Jubal Valentine

-Alana De La Garza: Special Agent in Charge Isobel Castille

-John Boyd: Special Agent Stuart Scola

-Taylor Anthony Miller: Analyst Kelly Moran

-Vedette Lim: Analyst Elise Taylor

-Katherine Renee Lane: Special Agent Tiffany Wallace

-James Chen: Analyst Ian Lim

Did You Know?

-ViCAP is a term used in enforcement. It stands for Violent Criminal Apprehension Program. It started out from a Los Angeles Police Department homicide detective named Pierce Brooks. During the 1970s, he was searching and hunting through papers on murders similar to what he was investigating at the time. His thought process was "What if this information was contained in a searchable system?" After pitching the idea to the Department of Justice, in the summer of 1985, Brooks became the manager of the then new ViCAP program. The system is only effective if law enforcement care enough to input data into the system

-There are at least three actual FBI agents who work as advisors on the show, to make sure things are accurate. They are Anne Beagan, Dan Fethiere and Scott Garriola. Scott and Dan are FBI technical advisors while Anne is an FBI special advisor

-In every episode, at one point or another, ASAC Valentine is seen carrying a pencil, whether it be behind his ear or using it as a pointer on the massive screens in the bullpen

-Originally, the character of Omar Adom Zidan was supposed to be Latino. But producers changed the character to be American, but of Middle Eastern descent to adapt to Zeeko Zaki's Egyptian heritage and his Muslim faith

Chicago Fire

Not only is this the name of the MLS team in Chicago, this is also a popular television show. Very frequently, you'll see officers and detectives from Chicago PD on here. These two shows will over cross over with each other on a frequent basis. Both shows will also cross over with Chicago Med.

Summary

-The show centers around the professional and personal lives of Chicago firefighters and paramedics

Cast

-Taylor Kinney: Kelly Severide

-Christian Stolte: Randall McHolland

-Eamonn Walker: Wallce Boden

-Joe Minoso: Joe Cruz

-Randy Flagler: Capp

-David Eigenberg: Christopher Hermann

-Jesse Spencer: Matthew Casey

-Anthony Ferraris: Tony

-Monica Raymund: Gabriella Dawson

-Amy Morton: Trudy Platts

-Jon Seda: Antonio Dawson

Did You Know?

-There are some scenes filmed on a studio set and others filmed inside an actual firehouse. The kitchen scenes are filmed inside the real firehouse kitchen, complete with Danger Men Cooking sign. If you see a door to the left of the cooking area, it's the studio set. If you see a water fountain, that is in the actual firehouse

-A lot of the locations used on the show are real locations, just given different names for the show. Firehouse 51 is actually Station 18, which is on 1360 S. Blue Island Ave in Chicago. Molly's Bar, which is owned by Hermann, Dawson and Otis, is in real life Lottie's in the Bucktown section of Chicago

-Anthony Ferraris, who plays Tony, is an actual firefighter. He helps plan how each accident in the show occurs, so that it appears accurate for a firefighter

-Whenever the fire academy is shown, that is the actual Quinn Fire Academy, located at 558 W. De Koven Street in Chicago. The academy is built on the former grounds of the O'Leary Farm, where the Great Chicago Fire in 1871 is believed to have originated from

-Most if not all fire departments do not allow facial hair, as seen on Lt. Severide. It interferes with the tight seal on the SCBA (self contained breathing apparatus) air masks worn by firefighters. The seal gasket, which ensures a snug fit, cannot work properly if the wearer has facial hair. Firefighters with too much facial hair will also fail this test. Mustaches, seen on Otis, Chief Boden and Mouch, don't present a problem. Firefighters must be clean shaven at all times to ensure a snug fit on their oxygen masks

-Actor Steve McQueen's grandson, Steven R. McQueen, plays a firefighter candidate named Jimmy Borelli. His grandfather starred in The Towering Inferno (1974) as a fire chief. He jumped into action and assisted real firefighters when a fire broke out on set

-The title for each episode comes from a bit of dialogue from that episode

The Flight Attendant's 12 Rules of Etiquette

We all know that not everyone has the most etiquette on an airplane. They leave messes for the flight staff to attend to. Here, according to the New York Times, are the 12 rules of etiquette for summer travel. And this article was composed by a flight attendant. She seems to have some snappy retorts for those who break the rules.

She's worked as a flight attendant for 21 years and she's seen / heard it all. She's seen small spats increase over to violence. With tensions rising because of the pandemic and more, violence against flight crew and passengers have been increasing quickly

1. While everyone has a right to recline, there's a polite way to do it

-If you want to recline, simply ask the person behind you if it's okay. If you don't, that's bad. The wrong way to go about it is to just go ahead and slam back as if you're in an easy chair at home. Those seats have flip down tables and the person behind you may have been working on something related to work because this might be a work trip for them. The slamming back of a recliner has broken laptops, spilled drinks, caused fistfights, resulting in flights being diverted. Not only that, if the person behind you has to use the bathroom, they can't get up because you're essentially in their lap. Prior to reclining, peek behind you and see what it going on and ask politely if the person minds if you recline.

2. Clean up after your kids

-The flight attendants are not maids. The planes do not come equipped with mops, vacuums or other cleaning supplies. In fact, their "cleaning supplies" go as far as hand soap, wet wipes and air freshener. You are not required to clean up, but it makes their jobs easier and faster when you do. It's also considerate. The other side of the clean up coin is that messes present a safety hazard; and they can delay the next flight of people. Think ahead: if you're bringing children, can they handle a large bag of snacks without making messes? Do they make a lot of messes with large bags of snacks at home? If the answer is no to either of those questions, bring a smaller, more easily controllable container of snacks for them. Once they're gone, they're gone. They don't get any more

3. The overhead bins are not your own personal Tetris game

-The overhead bins are to be shared by people in your row and immediate vicinity. In economy class, aka regular flying class, it's first come, first serve. With that said, still be considerate of others. Don't think that whole bin belongs to you. It's not acceptable to take out someone else's bag to make yours fit. Sliding them to the side is fine. Larger bags belong in overhead bins while smaller bags are told be stored under the seats. They go over this during the safety and rules of flying

4. No one wants to hear your conversation

-If you're on the phone, please be considerate of those around you. Use wireless earbuds or keep the conversation PG-13. No one wants to hear about the drama of someone having a family member arrested for something or hear an XXX-rated conversation. Plus, being on the airplane is no time for goodbyes. It's time to find your seat, stow your bags in either the overhead bin or under the seat in front you ASAP so people behind you can do the same thing. Also, no one wants to hear your music, movies, TikTok or video games. Bring headphones or earbuds, especially kids. It don't matter if the flight attendants can see what you're watching. They don't care; they just don't want to hear it.

(A personal example of mine is from a couple of years ago, me and my family were going to Mexico and the woman in the seat across the aisle from me was watching Fifty Shades of Grey on her Kindle. Thank God she had earbuds; I would have laughed myself sick hearing the moans of passion coming from that Kindle, lol. I told my sister and we were snickering so hard we were shaking)

5. The middle seat gets both armrests

-This is not arm wrestling; the middle seat gets both armests. That's the prize for being squished like sardines in between two people

6. Headphones are a perfect conversation ender

-Do you have an overly chatty seatmate who is just dying to tell you things you could care less about? Put those headphones on and signal conversation over. Headphones are the perfect way to signal to that diarrhea of the mouth seatmate you don't want to talk. And if you want to read, they should also take a hint. If they put their hand on your book to force you to listen, politely tell them that you are not interested in talking. If they still don't get the hint, be a little more forceful in letting them know you don't wish to communicate with them. Not everyone wants to talk with their seatmate, unless it's a sibling, friend or family member

7. Keep your socks on

-Foot smell is inescapable. An airplane is, more or less, a giant metal tube. If a smell escapes, the whole cabin will smell that smell.  You can take off your shoes, but keep your socks on. Also, keep your feet to yourself. It's not acceptable to put your feet on the armrest of the person in front of you; you may as well put your feet in their face because that's what it's like. Also, put your shoes on when using the bathroom

8. The call button is not a toy

-The call button is to be used only if you need a coffee refill, a medical issue or a disruptive passenger. It's not to be played with. Prior to pressing it, look around. Make sure the flight attendants are not already in the aisle passing out food and drinks. Only hit the button several times if it's an urgently dire emergency

9. Don't discipline other people's children

-That's the responsibility of that child's parents to discipline them. Nothing makes a flight more annoying than when a child behind you treats the seat as a personal punching bag. If a child is being disruptive, seek out the child's parents and ask that they do something about their child being disruptive. You don't have to yell and argue; calmly and nicely ask them to please have their child stop doing that. Tell them that it is beginning to annoy you. Ask them if they can make it stop. That way, you come off as nice and respectful and it does not come off as an accusatory tone

10. Seating issues are to be done before getting on the plane

-Airlines, by law, are not required to seat families together. You can ask to be seated together when checking in at your airline's front desk. The gate agents have access to the seating chart and family reservations. Ask them first if it's possible to change seats. Some airlines have a rule that families with kids under 13 must sit together. Contact the gate agent before boarding, or better yet, contact the airline prior to coming to the airport to save you frustration

11. You don't have to switch seats if someone asks you

-This will make a lot of people angry only because you have a choice seat and they got a crappy seat. It's completely fine to say No when someone asks you to switch seats with them. If you paid extra for your seat, then by all means, you should get to keep that seat. But if it is a good chance, such as getting a window seat or aisle seat, then go ahead and switch, as long as it's okay to move about the cabin

12. Flush. Please

-We all go to the bathroom on the airplane. We all have had to have a BM on the plane. Sometimes it's unavoidable. Please flush after you are done. This is complete common sense. No one else wants to flush what you've left behind. Not only that, but like foot smell, BM smell can spread throughout the cabin and no one wants to smell that. Look for the button and use it

A few bits of my own advice...

Don't clip your nails on the plane

-For the love of God, please do not do this. Not only is it inconsiderate, it's plain unsanitary. If your nails need to be clipped, do it BEFORE getting on the plane. No one wants to hear the rhythmic click click of a nail clipper. Because that means that that person's nails could risk getting in someone's hair, in someone's food or drink. And if you're clipping your toenails, there's something wrong with you. That's even more unsanitary because of foot conditions like athlete's foot, foot fungus and more. No one wants nails infected with foot fungus or other foot conditions getting on them; they're contagious. Not only that, it'll also be a miracle you got through security with a nail clipper considering they usually have a sharp nail file attached and could be considered a weapon.

Don't push your way through the airplane

-Everyone wants to sit down just like you. Don't push your way through the airplane because that could cause someone to fall and get seriously injured. Be patient because if there are people on the plane with babies or small children, they have to get them situated first.

-A great example of this. Me and my family had gone to the Dominican Republic a couple of years ago on vacation. We didn't know there was a wedding party on board where both the bride and groom had also brought their families. One person in the wedding party was a very overweight child complaining about having to walk too slow and he was pushing his way through the plane so he could sit down as soon as possible. As a result, he fell into my mom, who fell in to me and I fell into my sister, who fell into her airplane seat and got a nasty bruise shaped like the armrest on her lower back. My mother sought out his parents and told them what he was doing, but they didn't seem to do anything. They were just as preoccupied with sitting down as everyone else was

Don't knock someone over as soon as the bathroom door opens

-The flight staff only allow one person at a time to stand outside the bathroom. As soon as that person comes out, do not knock them over and practically push them out of your way. This can cause tempers to flare, words to be uttered, and before you know it, a fist fight. Be patient. Also to tie in with this, do not start banging on the door, demanding that person hurry up. Even though the planes do serve alcohol, do not consume tons of it; you'll have plenty of opportunity to get sloshed when you get to your destination. Until then, do not drink heavily on the airplane and then start banging on the door, telling the occupant to hurry up. It's 100% YOUR FAULT you have to relieve yourself; you shouldn't have drank all that booze. Not only that, but if a parent is in the bathroom with their young child, a child young enough to still be in diapers, that parent has to attend to those needs so that child doesn't get a urinary tract infection. That will take time to change and clean the child to get them into a clean diaper. Also, if a woman is experiencing Mother Nature, if you know what I mean, it takes time to attend to those needs as well. Be patient. Just wait your turn!

Don't overdrink on the airplane

-You'll have plenty of opportunity to get hammered when you arrive at your destination. Not only is it mind bogglingly expensive to drink alcohol on the airplane, but if you consume too much, you're either going to throw up or have to keep using the bathroom. And if you're in the middle, you don't want to bother your aisle seatmate, who might be asleep or doing something else, to keep getting up to use the bathroom. And they will be absolutely repulsed if you end up throwing up into one of those air sick bags right next to them, or worse, throwing up on yourself. So save yourself some issue and don't overdrink on the airplane. You'll be saving yourself not only $$$, but also the trouble of constant bathroom visits and/or throwing up

If you're with someone you love, don't start making out in the seats

-It's completely fine to be in love and sitting next to the one you love. It's a completely different game when you start making out so hard that it's only a matter of time before clothes start shedding. Save the passion for the bedroom at your hotel

-My parents witnessed this on the way home from Tahiti one year. They were on the airplane with a bunch of French residents, since a lot of French residents catch a connecting flight to De Gaulle Airport in France through CVG, the major airport serving the Northern Kentucky and Greater Cincinnati area. My mom and stepdad were coming home from Tahiti and this French couple in front of them started making out and then they really got into it. According to my mom, they were one step from shedding clothes and going down on each other right there. A flight attendant had to tell them to knock it off because there was a little French girl sitting next to my mother. She was in the middle of a custody battle with her parents; her mother lived in Paris and her dad lived in Tahiti and she had just gotten done having time with her dad, so she was going back to Paris.

Murder, She Wrote (1984)

I forgot how good this show was. It might seem dated in today's era, where entertainment on TV consists of reality TV shows like The Bachelor / The Bachelorette, Survivor, Seeking Brother Husband and other mind-rotting drama, where people are fighting or tempting their significant others to cheat or even older women looking for younger men to hook up with. But these old shows are great. The way the characters dress and talk, act and more takes you back to a more simple time, when there was less to worry about.

Summary

-Jessica Fletcher is a professional writer and amateur detective on the side who uses her good manners, charm and high intellect to help solve every case she encounters

Cast

-Angela Lansbury: Jessica Fletcher

-William Windom: Dr. Seth Hazlitt

-Ron Masak: Sheriff Mort Metzger

-Louis Herthum: Deputy Andy Broom

-Tom Bosley: Sheriff Amos Tupper

-Will Nye: Deputy Floyd

-Michael Horton: Grady Fletcher

-Ken Swofford: Lt. Catalano

-Julie Adams: Eve Simpson

Did You Know?

-The harbor of Cabot Cove, Jessica's home town, is in reality the lake for Jaws on the Universal Studios tram tour

-While Angela Lansbury was nominated for Best Lead Actress in a Drama Series for all twelve seasons of the show, she didn't win any Emmy awards for the show

-Jessica Fletcher's middle name is Beatrice, a tribute to Angela Lansbury's close friend Bea Arthur

-Jessica Fletcher couldn't drive, unlike Angela Lansbury, who did drive. Jessica Fletcher got around on bicycles, taxis or rides/lifts from the people around her

-The show got its name from a Miss Marple mystery called Murder She Said, which was, in turn, based on an Agatha Christie novel

-Despite being filmed in the fictional Maine town of Cabot Cove, the show was actually filmed on the West Coast. Jessica Fletcher's house was actually the Blair House Inn Bed and Breakfast in Mendocino, California. Other locations that look like New England were actually Northern California and Oregon

-Jessica took her maiden name McGill from Angela Lansbury's mother. Angela Lansbury's mother was born Charlotte Lillian McIldowie, who took the name Moyna McGill when she started acting

-Doris Day and Jean Stapleton were offered the roles of Jessica Fletcher, but refused. Angela Lansbury accepted the role

-There was a crossover episode done with Magnum P.I. It involves Jessica going to Hawaii and getting pulled into a case where Magnum (Tom Selleck) is framed for a crime and Higgins (John Hillerman) asks for Jessica's assistance. The episodes were called Magnum P.I.: Novel Connection (1986) and Murder, She Wrote: Magnum on Ice (1986)

-Angela Lansbury, Jerry Orbach (who often appeared on the show) and David Ogden Stiers all appeared in the 1991 Disney film Beauty & The Beast. Lansbury played Mrs. Potts and even sang the iconic theme. Jerry Orbach played Lumiere and David Ogden Stiers played Cogsworth

-On the show, prior to marrying her husband Frank Fletcher, Jessica wanted to pursue journalism as a career. She worked as a schoolteacher in her hometown of Cabot Cove, Maine where she and her husband lived until his death

-There is an actual harbor inlet called Cabot Cove in Kennebunkport, Maine

-Angela Lansbury was more than familiar with the whole murder-mystery genre. She had appeared in two film adaptations of Agatha Christie novels Death on the River Nile (1978) and The Mirror Crack'd (1980). In The Mirror Crack'd, she played a sleuth named Jane Marple. By the time this show premiered, everyone was more than willing to welcome Angela Lansbury as Jessica Fletcher with open arms

-On the show, her late husband Frank was a Korean War veteran. He was a bomber pilot

-The framed color photo that is supposed to be of Jessica and her husband Frank is actually a photo of Jessica and her husband Peter Shaw

-When Angela Lansbury died in 2022, this show was binge watched by more people than ever before