Emmett Otter Bound for the Stage and Muppets Etc.

I'm not sure how a live action otter puppet musical is really going to work, but Paul Williams is involved. I've yet to hear his Happy Days musical. That Muppet Central site is pretty cool, the news about the Sarah Marshall guy writing the next Muppet Movie is pretty interesting. For further Muppet information, get lost in the Muppet Wiki. Finally, we have The Muppet Show Season 3 in stock. The first two are great of course, but it gets really super awesome with this one. I've just started disc 2 but there's already a few standouts: Gilda Radner paired with a giant carrot doing songs from Pirates of Penzance, Alice Cooper's "School's Out" with giant monster choreography, and Loretta Lynn's appearance taking place in a train station instead of the usual theatre.

Tim and Eric: Beyond Awesome!!

Wow. Just wow. The DVD of Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job! Season One was released this week. I don't know why their random, creepy, inappropriate "comedy" resonates so highly with me, but it does. Many are repulsed by this show, I eat it up with a spoon. The DVD is great, and the commentary (particularly David Liebe Hart's discussion of his alien abduction) is a must for any fan.

Tonite I had the honor of seeing them live for the second time, the first being the oddly spiritual show at South Union Arts a few years ago. Thankfully my pals are geeks and we got to the Empty Bottle early and got a spot right in front of the stage which got us prime territory for Papa John's pizza to be tossed at us, hot dogs hurled by Casey and his brother, and Casey puking! The entire show was incredible, but the medley by Casey and his brother was really the best thing EVER! I never thought I'd hear "Cops and Robbers" live, seeing as Casey died in that explosion, but there they were! The live stuff was fantastic, and the video bits of season three (Dr. Steve Brule in an informercial!) were, well, awesome!

Okay wait. It did get better. Somehow I got called on stage for a dance contest! They invited up people in Rats Off To Ya shirts, but I was wearing the Hats Off To Ya shirt ("That's a rarity!")and got to dance to James Quall's Beach Blast. By popular vote, I won SECOND PLACE~!!! I got a copy of their CD (which I had bought upon getting in there, but hey, great gift!) and recognition from many nice people afterwards. Oh, and DJ Dougg Pound's way too brief opening set was super great as well! (Didn't I used to see that guy at Heaven Gallery or somewhere?)

GREAT JOB!!

PS - Way dorky pictures abound here.

The Best American Sitcom FINALLY on DVD!

Well, of course it is! Don't be reedikulous! Alright, I'll amend that to "Best American Sitcom Of My Lifetime". Yes, Season 1 and 2 of Perfect Strangers is here! Season 1 was a mid-season replacement and only 6 episodes long, but Balki and Cousin Larry had an amazing chemistry from the very first episode. The physical comedy is up there with I Love Lucy and Three's Company, and yet they manage to squeeze some heart warming message in to nearly every episode. Don't forget the always awesome "comic misunderstand" too! Toss in the fact that it takes place in Chicago and how could you have a more Perfect Sitcom?!

Here's a nice montage of some musical scenes from throughout the show:




I'd also like to present to you the simple Perfect Strangers Drinking Game! Take a shot or drink each time:

•Balki says "Of course...Don't be ridiculous."
•Dimitri, Balki's stuffed sheep appears on screen.
•Balki wears suspenders or a vest.
•A popular song is sung.
•Larry corrects Balki's grammar.

The Night They Saved Christmas

They don't make TV movies like this anymore, yet the message of environmentalism is as fresh as Al Gore's green necktie. Follow your typical nuclear family circa 1983 of fed up, pilot license possessing mom (Jaclyn Smith) and stereotypical children (the bully, the brain and the girl) as they are pitted against geologist Dad who is totally going to blow up the North Pole if he continues with his oil drilling! Santa sends his head elf Ed (played by tiny freaking genius PAUL WILLIAMS) to win mom and kids over with a harrowing trip to the North Pole. Of course nobody believes them, and the theory of them being dosed with mind altering drugs is postulated several times by dad's
grumpy boss. This will rise like froth on eggnog to the top of your
Christmas movie viewing.

This DVD Will Change Your Life, I Promise You.

The premise of Tom Goes To The Mayor is easily summed up in that title: Every episode, Tom Peters, Jefferton's resident entrepreuer goes to see the Mayor of the town with an idea for improving life in Jefferton, an abysmal burg of strip malls and chain restaurants.

The animation style is unlike anything you have seen before: photos of the actors are taken and treated with a photoshop filter, the background are drawn, and the food is photorealistic. Some things are completely live action though, like Jefferton's Married News Team. Oh and like every episode has some special guest: Tenacious D, David Cross, Sarah Silverman, Brian Poesehn, Zack Galiafinakis, John C. Riley... It's a surreal absurdist comedic entity of geniosity that may never be matched again. The complete Adult Swim-run series is on 3 DVDs, and every episode has commentary and tons of bonus stuff. I cannot recommend this more highly if you are in to "indie" comedy. It's that amazing.

P.S. - The creative team behind Tom has a show currently on Adult Swim - Tim and Eric Awesome Show Great Job that is also very very good.