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Man of Steel
Holy competition, Batman! Even though this year's summermovie season is packed to the hilt with caped crusaders anddinosaurs and aliens, oh my! (the continued exploits of big-screenfranchises "Batman," "Jurassic Park" and"Aliens")--Warner Bros. is betting there's still roomleft in theaters and theater-goers' hearts for toweringbasketball star Shaquille O'Neal (pictured above).
In his laBODY project, titled simply "Steel,"O'Neal--no rookie to film--plays John Henry Irons, a metalsspecialist who moonlights as the armor-clad superhero"Steel." Not surprisingly, the live-action adventurecalls upon Steel to put his superpowers to the BODY by outwitting aband of high-tech criminals. (It's always the same with thosesuperheroes--work, work, work. . . . )
As bets go, "Steel" seems a pretty goodone--especially considering the phenomenal popularity of basketballin general. By most accounts the favorite team sport in the nation,basketball is now estimated to be played by a hoop-staggeringone-fifth of the U.S. population. Combine that with Americansuperhero worship, and you've got the makings of a Hollywoodhit. Take that, Batman!
A Movable Feast
Ask not for whom the dinner bell tolls; it tolls for thee--justnot at home. Filled with renewed confidence in the economy,Americans are once more hungering for the taste of someoneelse's cooking. Restaurateurs rejoice: Dining out is in.
According to the Brea, California-based restaurant consultingfirm Sandelman & Associates Inc., casual dining, family diningand quick-service segments are all benefiting from the restaurantrush.
And patrons aren't just dining out more often, as Sandelman& Associates' research shows. Meal ticketaverages--particularly in the casual dining segment--are rising atan impressive clip. Specifically, the casual dining ticket averagerose from just under $29 in May 1995 to almost $40 only one yearlater. By way of comparison, ticket averages among familyrestaurant patrons rose from some $25 in February 1995 to more than$27 by September 1996. And even in the fast-food arena, ticketaverages rose from in excess of $9 in late 1995 to just over $10 inabout a year.
What explains the increase? Conventional wisdom points to lessfinancially strapped diners more inclined to order pricier menuitems or additional items. Restaurateurs are cautioned, however, tothink long and hard before raising prices: Their financial healthnotwithstanding, more than 85 percent of diners surveyed ratedperceived value as "extremely" or "very"important.
Eager Beaver
Old TV shows never die . . . they just switch media. Now thatthe Brady Bunch has been given its big-screen due, another famousfamily from television's past is poised to take its own tripdown memory lane. Believe it or not, that venerable classic"Leave It to Beaver" is reportedly set to hit moviescreens soon.
As the Hollywood rumor mill has it, "NorthernExposure" star Janine Turner leads a film cast that includesCameron Finley ("Perfect World") as the titlecharacter--the Beav. Considering the nation's new-foundappreciation for beloved TV families, could a "HappyDays" revival be far behind?
Monster Flash
He's b-a-a-a-c-k--or, at least, he will be soon. Althoughstudio sources are keeping mum, USA Today reports that abig-screen version of Godzilla is set for release in the summer of1998. After their monster success with Independence Day, themovie's creators decided to tackle--well, depict--the mightyGodzilla in all his frightening glory. Stay tuned for furtherrumblings.
Just For Girls
Software companies are starting to get with theprograms--girls' programs, that is. "Nobody was buildinganything for girls," says Doug Glen, president of the ElSegundo, California-based Mattel Media Inc. "The girls'market was practically ignored by the industry."
Until now, it seems. Drawn by the huge potential of anundertapped consumer base, multimedia giants the likes of MattelMedia are making high-profile pushes into the girls' softwaremarket. "It's pretty clear that girls want to play on thecomputer," says Glen, "and there's been very littlefor them to choose from."
This year alone, says Glen, Mattel Media is planning to releasesome half a dozen titles for girls, with an emphasis on its Barbietie-in programs--"Barbie Makeover Magic," "BarbieOcean Adventure" and "Barbie Partymaker" amongthem.
Hitting this target market, however, might not be such an easytask. As Glen notes, boys and girls aren't generally getting(or seeking) the same things out of the games they play. "Boystend to play competitively and aggressively," he says."Girls tend to play much more cooperatively and creatively.They [also] communicate a whole lot more, which is why [many oftheir software programs] involve making up stories and acting outfantasies of what it's like to be a grownup."
Well . . . vive la différence.
Soup's On!
You might say the burgeoning soup craze is Seined, sealed anddelivered. Thanks to its much-talked-about "Soup Nazi"episode, the hit TV show "Seinfeld" has helped to turn upthe heat on one of the nation's best-loved--but oftenoverlooked--foods.
Just as coffee fueled a specialty industry, trend watchers arewondering if another hot liquid might be ready to go full steamahead. It certainly seems so, judging by the success of soupenterprises like San Antonio-based Souper Salad Inc. According toSouper Salad's Clint Shackelford, the privately held soup andsalad chain has experienced approximately 25 percent growth in eachof the past two years. As of this month, Souper Salad numbers 68units in six states.
Not surprisingly, restaurants aren't the only places whereconsumers are getting bowled over. In a reader survey, BetterHomes and Gardens magazine found one-third of respondents saidthey were serving and preparing more soups than they had two yearsearlier. Our cups runneth over.
Fashion Focus
Is there a revolution taking place in the world of fashion? Asif in response to recent reports signaling the growing number ofoverweight Americans, the fashion industry is looking anew at themarket for full-figured women's clothing. And even thoughwaifish model Kate Moss will probably never lack for work, abrand-new fashion magazine is touting the allure of women who wearlarger-sized clothing.
"Most women are size 12 and up," says Nancy NadlerLeWinter, who, along with partner Julie Lewit-Nirenberg, islaunching Mode magazine this month. "We are talking tothe majority of the population."
Not only that, Mode also seems to have perfect timing:Even designers as well-known as Versace and Armani have branchedout into designs for bigger women. "If you talk toretailers," says Lewit-Nirenberg, "they'll tell youthat this is the area in the store that's experiencing thelargest growth."
Claiming to be the first fashion magazine for full-figuredwomen, Mode is targeting professional women between the agesof 25 and 49 years old. And--how's this for experience?--NadlerLeWinter and Lewit-Nirenberg were publishers of Esquire andMirabella, respectively.
"What we're doing is creating an achievablefantasy," enthuses Nadler LeWinter. "We are going to bethe fashion bible for women sizes 12 to 24--that's ourgoal."
Keep your eyes glued to the runways.
Contact Sources
Mattel Media Inc., 333 Continental Blvd., El Segundo, CA90245, (310) 252-2000;
Mode, 22 E. 49th St., 5th Fl., New York, NY 10017,(212) 328-0180;
Sandelman & Associates Inc., 1125 Stone Gate Dr.,Irving, TX 75063, (972) 432-9543.
