Tag: Santa Claus

  • A Bit Of A Chat with Ken Plume: Stan Lee reads ‘Twas The Night Before Christmas

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    I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.

    In this very special holiday treat, master storyteller (and living legend) Stan Lee reads Clement Clarke Moore’s “‘Twas The Night Before Christmas”…

    Hope you enjoy…

    Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume: Stan Lee reads ‘Twas The Night Before Chrismtas“:

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/bitofachat/bit_of_a_chat-stan_lee_christmas.mp3]

    (And be sure to listen to my BIT OF A CHAT with Stan!)

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    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

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    Drop Ken a line HERE.

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    You can also find more of my interviews by clicking HERE.

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  • Weekend Shopping Guide 11/2/12: Hitched

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    The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the FRED Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

    (Please support FRED by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)

    Have you noticed which much-desired films have been largely absent on Blu-Ray until now? Don’t worry – I’ll tell you, because that gross oversight has been rectified in wonderful fashion with the 15-film Alfred Hitchcock: Masterpiece Collection (Universal, $299.98 SRP), which re-creates in glorious high-definition the excellent DVD gathering of the famed director’s American output in one easy-as-pie package. The restoration and mastering done for the films included here – Saboteur, Shadow Of A Doubt, Rope, Rear Window, The Trouble With Harry, The Man Who Knew Too Much, Vertigo, North By Northwest, Psycho, The Birds, Marnie, Torn Curtain, Topaz, Frenzy, and Family Plot – is top notch, trumping the lovely work done for the old DVD release. And thankfully, the bonus features from that set are also carried over, which include audio commentaries, featurettes, screen tests, interviews, storyboards, and more. Getting this is a no-brainer, so do it.

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    Thinkgeek time! You can never, ever have too many USB ports. You know this to be the case. That’s why something like the 28-port MondoHub ($89.99 SRP) is absolutely brilliant. With 4 USB 3.0 ports and 24 USB 2.0 ports, all of which can be turned on and off individually, it’s a perfectly useful piece of tech.

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    Shout Factory continues to prove themselves the ideal company when it comes to releasing classic television series, and kudos to Sony for turning over titles from their library, as it gives us remarkable definitive collections like All In The Family: The Complete Series (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$199.99 SRP). Not only does the 28-disc collection feature all 9 seasons, but it also includes a bonus disc with two of the show’s original pilots, the pilots to the show’s spin-offs (Gloria, Archie Bunker’s Place, 704 Hauser, documentaries, an interview with Norman Lear, and more. Can we get lovely collections of Soap, Fernwood Tonight, Benson, and Newsradio now?

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    You know the holidays have arrived when the new-to-high-def catalogue releases start becoming holiday titles, which is exactly what we’ve got with the Santa Clause Collection (Walt Disney. Rated PG/G, Blu-Ray-$49.99 SRP), which brings together all 3 festive family comedies starring Tim Allen as the hapless divorced dad who finds himself the latest to take up the mantle of Santa Claus. Bonus materials are all carried over from the previous DVD releases, and include featurettes, deleted scenes, commentaries, and more.

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    I’m not a fan of Brendon Small’s off-putting egofest, but I know there are lots of people out there excited to hear that Metalocalypse: Season IV (Adult Swim, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$28.99 SRP) is now available, featuring 12 episodes in mind-numbing high definition.

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    Sadly, Copper (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) isn’t really a BBC show. It’s one of the first of a new breed of BBC America shows, as that network somehow felt there were slim pickings to be had in actual BBC fare and had to develop their own vehicles with largely American talent. Sad, really. The show itself – a crime series set in 1864 New York City – is decent if unremarkable, but certainly shows promise. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, deleted scenes, featurettes, and character profiles.

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    There are hundreds, if not thousands of films released in the last 20 years that did not make a big enough splash at the box office or on VHS that hopes for an eventual Blu-Ray release would seem to be rather dim, at best. Flying in the fact of that with an incredibly economical package is the clutch of new double feature Blu-Ray discs from Mill Creek’s distribution deal with Buena Vista – Color Of Night/Playing God, Mafia!/The Crew, The Doctor/Stella, A Simple Twist Of Fate/Unstrung Heroes, One Good Cop/A Stranger Among Us, Billy Bathgate/Blaze, The Good Mother/Angie (Mill Creek, $9.98 SRP each). There are no bonus features to speak of, but the fact that any of these films made it to high definition is bonus enough.

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    By the 5th and final season of The Streets Of San Francisco (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$48.99 SRP), Michael Douglas was long gone, replaced by Richard Hatch, who joined stalwart schnozz Karl Malden as they both set out to solve the crimes in the city by the Bay.

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    Right up front, I think we can all agree that Hot Toys has, for the last few years, been producing some of the best, if not the best, 12″-scale collector figures on the market. They’re simply stunning, from eerily lifelike sculpts and paint ops to perfectly-scaled and accurate costuming, they’re the folks to beat. And, every once in awhile, they decide to plus their already great work by releasing a DX figure – which is essentially their bells and whistles affair, usually with extra props, special displays, and their even-more-eerily lifelike dynamic eye system, which allows you to adjust the figure’s gaze. The latest figure to get this treatment comes straight from Star WarsThe Empire Strikes Back, to be exact – and it’s Luke Skywalker in Bespin Outfit ($299.99), which is the tan flightsuit Luke wears on Dagobah and then on to Bespin. If you recall, Luke got pretty banged up during his fight with Vader, eventually losing his hand and plummeting down an exhaust vent. Well, Hot Toys gives you not one, but TWO Luke figures in this DX set – One nice and clean and ready to fight, and one bruised and bloodied and with the ability to swap out his arm for a handless one (you also get the severed hand, natch). So no need to swap costumes – You’ve got both options ready to go, right out of the box. And you’ve even got two display options, as in addition to a nicely-themed Bespin-architecture stand, you also get an elaborate recreation of the vane Luke dangles from underneath Cloud City, featuring LED lights and either displayable on a shelf or hanging up. How about that? Oh, and speaking of Luke’s training on Dagobah, the Sideshow Exclusive edition of this figure includes the severed Luke-Head-In-Vader-Helmet seen during the young Skywalker’s trial in the cave. Take a look at the pics below, and realize you’ll want to snap this one up while you can…

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    So there you have it… my humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this coming weekend. See ya next week…

    -Ken Plume

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  • Weekend Shopping Guide 10/23/09: Don’t Mention The War

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    The weekend’s here. You’ve just been paid, and it’s burning a hole in your pocket. What’s a pop culture geek to do? In hopes of steering you in the right direction to blow some of that hard-earned cash, it’s time for the Quick Stop Weekend Shopping Guide – your spotlight on the things you didn’t even know you wanted…

    (Please support Quick Stop by using the links below to make any impulse purchases – it helps to keep us going…)

    When new editions of previously released titles come out, it’s always difficult to determine whether there is a significant difference in image/sound quality or bonus features to make a re-purchase worth it. And sometimes, it’s an easy decision – and that’s the case with Black Adder Remastered: The Ultimate Edition (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$79.98 SRP) and Fawlty Towers: The Complete Collection Remastered (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP). On the new Black Adder set – in addition to all of the previously available material – the set adds the newly-produced, in-depth anniversary documentary Blackadder Rides Again, as well as an hour-plus clutch of unedited interviews recorded for the documentary. Not only are the episodes completely remastered and looking better than ever on the new Fawlty set, but John Cleese has recorded new commentaries in addition to brand new interviews with the cast, including the previously unavailable Connie Booth, outtakes, the previously available director’s commentaries, and the Torquay Tourist Guide documentary short.

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    Haven’t you always wanted a monkey? Even if you don’t have a million dollars, you can still snag yourself a nifty little beanie version of Thinkgeek’s loveable mascot, Timmy the Monkey ($6.99). Perfect for desks, shelves, gifts, or even – imagine this – kids.

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    As much as I love Larry Sanders, I will always hold a special place in my heart for It’s Garry Shandling’s Show (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$159.99 SRP) – and I am beyond delighted that not only is it now available on DVD, but it’s the whole series, to boot. If that weren’t enough, Shandling has cooperated with a nice batch of bonus features. This is a must-have set for a must-see show.

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    The butt of many a joke but not nearly as bad as it’s been made out to be (though it’s still an overlong, pretentious flick), Kevin Costner’s bloated, sweeping wetpic Waterworld (Universal, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) is now available in high-definition. Sadly, there are no bonus features. None. Not a drop.

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    King of the gimmicky 50’s fright flicks, William Castle gets his own spotlight collection bringing together 8 of those cult films into one box set – The William Castle Film Collection (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$80.95 SRP). The films in question are 13 Frightened Girls, 13 Ghosts, Homicidal, Strait-Jacket, The Old Dark House, Mr. Sardonicus, The Tingler, & Zotz!. Bonus features include a clutch of featurettes, trailers, rare intros, and more.

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    With its 4th season now on DVD, Bones (Fox, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$69.99 SRP) has evolved into a delightful, quirky, accessible, askew take on the long-smoldering rom-com TV dynamic, like a cross between CSI & Moonlighting, thanks to the wonderful chemistry between David Boreanaz & Emily Deschanel. Oh, and Stephen Fry turns up. Bonus materials include featurettes, deleted scenes, and a gag reel.

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    Goofy, trippy, and odd – really think of any term that evokes the word bizarre and you’re apt to come as close to capturing what it’s like watching The Marvelous Misadventures Of Flapjack (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.97 SRP), Cartoon Network’s little shoe that could and Paul Sabourin’s guilty pleasure. The first volume features 5 episodes, plus a quartet of featurettes.

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    While not holding a candle to the classics of the 1960’s, there’s still plenty of fun to be had with the specials contained in the Peanuts: 1970’s Collection – Volume 1 (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP). The 2-disc collection features Play It Again, Charlie Brown, You’re Not Elected, Charlie Brown, There’s No Time For Love, Charlie Brown, A Charlie Brown Thanksgiving, It’s a Mystery, Charlie Brown, and It’s The Easter Beagle, Charlie Brown, plus a featurette on the creation of Snoopy’s avian sidekick, Woodstock.

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    Produced by Jerry Bruckheimer, The Eleventh Hour (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$34.95) was a show that only made it to 18 episodes, and wouldn’t have been able to make the journey to DVD if it weren’t for Warners’ on-demand service through WBShop.com. The 6-disc set contains all 18 episodes of Rufus Sewell starring in a nerdy version of The X-Files.

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    They both have their charms (though the original far outstrips the 90’s remake), but know you can get both versions of Miracle On 34th Street (Fox, Not Rated/Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP each) in full high definition, just in time for the holiday season. The 90’s flick is featureless, but the original contains an audio commentary, the AMC Backstory, featurettes, a promo short, and a poster gallery.

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    Delve into the historical, cultural, and religious roots of the Santa Claus myth via In Search Of Santa Claus (Infinity, Not Rated, DVD-$9.98 SRP), an interesting look at the jolly fat man, as we quickly approach that time of year.

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    One of the earliest TV shows to get onto DVD was Ally McBeal. That was a long time ago, and no further seasons were ever released. Now, however fans can finally get Ally McBeal: The Complete First Season (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) – and, shockingly, it’s got all of the original music.

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    So there you have it… my humble suggestions for what to watch, listen to, play with, or waste money on this coming weekend. See ya next week…

    -Ken Plume

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