Author: UncaScroogeMcD

  • Win CHICAGO 10 on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of CHICAGO 10 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Friday, September 12th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Friday, September 12th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • SModcast 63

    newhead2.jpg

    Your TextSModcast is the meandering palaver of a pair of dudes whose voices are so dull, they don’t deserve to be on the radio (and, hence, aren’t). Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier are SModcast.The best thing about SModcast? It don’t cost nothing.

    line.gif

    SModcast 63: SMod-Kushed –

    In which our heroes are joined by their friend Herb.

    [CONTENT WARNING] SModcast features harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Listener discretion is advised.

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    SModcast 63 (MP3 format) – 66.91 MB

    [display_podcast]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
    Subscribe to this Podcast via FeedBurner

    Wanna add your two cents? Spend it here, in the SModcast mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE SMODCAST ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 8/29/08: Knucklehead Before Christmas

    weekendshopping.png

    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…

    Getting a long-overdue top-to-bottom overhaul of it sound and picture, The Nightmare Before Christmas (Walt Disney, Rated PG, DVD-$32.99 SRP) has been re-released as a revamped 2-disc special edition, replete with a brand new commentary (with Tim Burton, Henry Selick, and Danny Elfman), a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, a storyboard-to-film comparison, the Frankenweenie and Vincent shorts, Burton’s original poem with Christopher Lee narration, trailers, and more. Not only is the regular edition available, but there’s also a gorgeous Blu-Ray version ($39.99 SRP) and a deluxe edition housed in a bust of Jack Skellington ($179.99 SRP), which also features his Santy hat and beard for easy holiday decorating.

    blankguide.gif

    thinkgeek-01.jpg

    In our fast-paced, on-the-go, insert cliché world, making our entertainment mobile is a must. With iPhones, iPods, laptops, and other portable media devices – plus scores of DVDs and TV shows to get through in a day – finding a way to automate the process of making those videos easily uploadable to your devices is a must. Enter the iRecord ($199.99) – a one-touch solution. Simply hook in your video source, press the button, and it goes to town with beautiful encoding that’s portable-ready. Sweet.

    thinkgeek-02.jpg

    blankguide.gif

    With the third Three Stooges Collection (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$24.96 SRP), we move into the beginning of the war years. Before even Chaplin, the Stooges were the first to tackle and lampoon Hitler and the Nazis onscreen in the short You Nazty Spy!, which leads off this 2-disc collection of 23 shorts spanning the years 1940-1942. Bring on volume 4!

    blankguide.gif

    It’s been almost a decade since Randy Newman put out a new album of original tunes – not since Bad Love for the doomed Dreamworks Records, in fact – and it was with some trepidation that I spun up Harps And Angels (Nonesuch, $18.98 SRP). You see, I’m a big Newman fan – from the days of his eponymous debut right up to his ill-fated Faust – and I worried about how badly I’d take it if his new batch of songs didn’t live up to his past. Well, I needn’t have worried, because this a great clutch of tracks, with his signature melodies and arrangements and his unique songwriting perspective intact. Go listen.

    blankguide.gif

    Three years in and Everybody Hates Chris (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) has managed the rare feat of still being a quality, funny show. Unlike Malcolm In The Middle, which squandered its brilliant start by becoming a cartoon, Chris is still grounded in the reality it set up right from the beginning. The 4-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus audio commentaries, webisodes, interviews, featurettes, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    Very rarely does a film manage to capture the of-times bizarre flights of fantasy that envelop the average childhood, so when a flick does manage to capture lightning in a bottle, it’s worth noting. Such is the case with Son Of Rambow (Paramount, Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.99), which finds a young boy discovering common ground with a bully by taking a video camera and a worn copy of Rambo: First Blood, and making a little cinematic magic of their own. To say anymore would ruin the fun, but suffice to say – see it. Bonus features include an audio commentary, the short film that inspired the movie, a making-of, and more. This title is currently a Best Buy exclusive.

    blankguide.gif

    Seven years after it came out with an underground, viral splash, Brotherhood Of The Wolf (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) gets a new director’s cut and a 2-disc special edition, featuring a making-of documentary, deleted scenes, featurettes, storyboards, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    If you were in any sort of doubt that we were, in fact, in a presidential election year here in the US, let the immense American Experience: The Presidents Collection (PBS, Not Rated, DVD-$129.98 SRP) remind you. The 10-disc set features profiles on Theodore Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, Harry Truman, The Kennedys, LBJ, Richard Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan, and George HW Bush.

    blankguide.gif

    For all of the brilliance of Heroes‘ first season, its second season (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) fell into that awful, stereotypical sophomore season confusion that has derailed many a promising series before it. In fact, the best thing that happened to the season was probably the writer’s strike, which truncated the wrongheaded direction and allowed a rethink breather. We can only hope season 3 is a course correction. The 4-disc second season set features all 11 episodes, plus audio commentaries, an alternate ending and behind-the-scenes look at the episode “Generations”, featurettes, interviews, and a sneak peek at season 3.

    blankguide.gif

    By now, you pretty much now to expect quite a nice dramatic ride from Detective Vic Mackey, and the 6th season of The Shield (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$59.95 SRP) doesn’t disappoint., as Internal Affairs is breathing down his neck and forced retirement is looming. The 4-disc set features all 10 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

    blankguide.gif

    Mark Harmon and his team of crackerjack Naval Investigators are up against murderers, kidnappers, spies, terrorists, and tigers (maybe not tigers) in the 5th season of NCIS (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The 5-disc set features all 18 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    See, I thought the arrival of Pixar’s John Lasseter and Ed Catmull at the head of Disney animation was going to put a stop to the roll-out of mediocre direct-to-video sequels. I guess there’s no stopping the Disney marketing machine, because here we are with The Little Mermaid: Ariel’s Beginning (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$29.99 SRP), a prequel to the 1989 classic. Bonus features include deleted scenes, a behind-the-scenes featurette, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    I gotta admit – even though I was never a big fan, I at least found some enjoyment from Entourage. With the fourth season (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), I must say – I’m off it. The charm is gone, and the characters have devolved into soapy clichés. It’s a shame, because it at least had its charm. The 3-disc set features all 12 episodes, plus a trio of audio commentaries, featurettes, and a US Comedy Arts Festival panel with the cast.

    blankguide.gif

    Hunker down this weekend with the complete first seasons of a pair of new History Channel shows – UFO Hunters and Battle 360 (History Channel, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP each). The 4-disc set UFO Hunters features all 13 of the investigative (if misguided) episodes plus additional scenes, while the 4-disc Battle 360 sports all 10 episodes chronicling and recreating the USS Enterprise’s dramatic WWII battles, in addition to a clutch of bonus scenes.

    blankguide.gif

    The second volume of The Untouchables‘ second season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) finds Elliot Ness and his G-Men shifting their focus away from alcohol and onto narcotics, and also expanding further afield than just the mean streets of Chicago. The 4-disc set contains 16-episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    Even though it’s more hit than miss, there’s a certain joy in discovering that there was once a sketch show that starred Stephen Fry, Hugh Laurie, Emma Thompson, Ben Elton, and Robbie Coltrane. That series – Alfresco (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$39.99 SRP) – is now available in its entirety on DVD, and is worth checking out for the talent alone.

    blankguide.gif

    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

    ##

  • Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #58: Things And Stuff

    snydecast-header.png

    snydecast-logo2.png

    Adult Swim’s Dana Snyder and FRED’s Ken Plume set out to have a literate conversation between two pals, but inevitably devolve into a verbal, and funny, free-for-all full of bickering, infighting, and the special kind of male bonding that comes from conflict expressed through the podcast medium.

    Actor/comedian/raconteur Dana Snyder, you’re certainly aware, is Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Master Shake, Squidbillies‘ Granny, Minoriteam’s Dr. Wang, and The Venture Bros.‘ Alchemist. Available for weddings and bar mitzvahs (bat availability pending), you can keep tabs on him via his website, www.eyeofthesnyder.com.

    Ken Plume is the editor-in-chief here at FRED. He is a friend of Dana’s, as well as his arch-nemesis.

    VISIT THE SNYDECAST EXPERIENCE

    linesm.gif

    KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #58: Things And Stuff – Ken & Dana return with a heated discussion about what constitutes a proper level of sharing, and then beat the discussion into the ground. And then kick it some more. They also talk about The Village People. For far too long. And then chat helms.

    [CONTENT WARNING]: This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #58 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/snydecast/ken_p_d_snyde_cast-58.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Dana & Ken at the Snydecast mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE SNYDECAST ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Cabin Fever #37: P-p-p-pick Up A Podcast

    cabinfeverheader.png

    cabin.jpgOh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the Quick Stop…

    Cabin Fever (hosted by the twisted souls Brian Fitzpatrick and Aaron Poole) is the result of having too much time on your hands and access to your local community radio station.

    Over the course of an hour, they manage to trawl the depths of good taste, plus throw some music in. How much more could you want from a podcast?… Quality? Oh… we didn’t think of that.

    Enjoy! And we hope our cross Atlantic friends can understand the Irish accent 😉

    Hugs and Kisses,
    Aaron P. + Rev. Fitzy

    linesm.gif

    CABIN FEVER #37: P-p-p-pick Up A Podcast – The guys record this week’s episode while “on a plane” (wink) on their way to DragonCon (wink wink). Recording in transit proves to be no problem for them, and they amuse themselves with talk of penguins (both the knighted and edible kind), Ravi Shankar’s family ties, Zac’s big news, and they also find time to reminisce about their angst-filled college days. All this and more before they even munch their in-flight peanuts (wink wink wink).

    [CONTENT WARNING]: Explicit contents! We say every naughty word you can think of. You have been warned!

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #37 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/cabinfever/cabin_fever_37.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Aaron & Brian at the Cabin Fever mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE CABIN FEVER ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Win BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF – DIRECTOR’S CUT on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Universal Home Video, ten (10) copies of BROTHERHOOD OF THE WOLF – DIRECTOR’S CUT on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, September 1st.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, September 1st.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • SModcast 62

    newhead2.jpg

    Your TextSModcast is the meandering palaver of a pair of dudes whose voices are so dull, they don’t deserve to be on the radio (and, hence, aren’t). Kevin Smith and Scott Mosier are SModcast.The best thing about SModcast? It don’t cost nothing.

    line.gif

    SModcast 62: The Human Quilt –

    In which our heroes accost a rocker in the cereal aisle, get unruly on a plane, fear the wrath of a pent-up Paul Bunyan, and go to the movies.

    [CONTENT WARNING] SModcast features harsh language and even harsher notions of propriety. Listener discretion is advised.

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    SModcast 62 (MP3 format) – 66.24 MB

    [display_podcast]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes
    Subscribe to this Podcast via FeedBurner

    Wanna add your two cents? Spend it here, in the SModcast mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE SMODCAST ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Win BONE: VOLUME 8 – TREASURE HUNTERS!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Graphix/Scholastic, one (1) hardcover copy and three (3) softcover copies of BONE: VOLUME 8 – TREASURE HUNTERS.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 29th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 29th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 8/22/08: Snuff Times

    weekendshopping.png

    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…

    See, I remember watching Daily Show correspondent John Oliver on UK shows like Mock The Week long before he crossed the pond to take up residence on US TV. With that in mind, I was delighted when Comedy Central decided to give him a stand up spotlight with John Oliver: Terrifying Times (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$19.99 SRP), which hits DVD in an extended/uncensored edition replete with bonus features galore. Snag yourself a copy and see why I like Brit comedians so much.

    blankguide.gif

    thinkgeek-01.jpg

    I love a good gadget. We all do. What better gadget is there for the average geek than one that potentially makes you look absurd when its in use? Such is the case with the Helmet Camera ($99.99) – a cordless, battery-powered, waterproof, and mountable camera that allows you to look like a giddy moron while running around with a camera strapped to your head. The camera can be upgrades from 32mb onboard flash memory to 2gb with the purchase of an SD card, which means 60 minutes worth of decent quality video of you doing… stuff. It’s fun!

    thinkgeek-02.jpg

    blankguide.gif

    If you thought that Mr. Show was an endearingly bizarre collection of surreality in sketch form, then – like me – you will revel in (and laugh at) Matt Berry and Rich Fulcher’s Snuff Box (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-£15.99 SRP). Yes, you will laugh – even if occasionally that laughter takes the form of a gurgling sputter of disbelief at Berry & Fulcher’s… unique sensibilities as a pair of bickering hangmen. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, a behind-the-scenes featurette, outtakes, and the show’s fantastic soundtrack, by Berry.

    blankguide.gif

    My only real disappointment with the Blu-Ray arrival of the uneven-but-still better-than The Batman first season of the animated Justice League (Warner Bros., Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$59.98 SRP) is that they yet again chose to present the made-for-widescreen episodes in their full frame format, without the alternative available. Still, you get all 26 episodes across 3 discs, plus a trio of audio commentaries, featurettes, a never-before-seen promo, and a music video. I hope we get the even more superior 2nd and 3rd seasons post haste.

    blankguide.gif

    After far too long an absence – and numerous health problems – Dana Carvey has returned with a brand new stand-up special – his first in almost 12 years – Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Not only is he looking hale and hearty, but he’s managed to do what few comics can do after so long an absence – come back with a funny act. The special delivers, and here’s hoping his next one comes a little faster. The 2-disc set features additional footage, a Q&A, and his 1995 HBO special Critics’ Choice.

    blankguide.gif

    Showtime’s loveable sociopath returns for a second season, and I have to agree with most of the fans – there was something off about season 2 of Dexter (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The tone just didn’t seem as deft as its inaugural run – but maybe that was because the new car smell began to wear off. I will say that this season ratcheted tension nicely, as the FBI began investigating the murders of his victims, while he began having some self-doubts. The 4-disc set features all 12 episodes, plus interviews and sampler episodes from other Showtime series.

    blankguide.gif

    Get a healthy reminder of what to avoid this election season by picking up the extended “Election Year Edition” of Oliver Stone’s flawed-but-riveting Nixon (Hollywood Pictures, Rated R, DVD-$29.98 SRP), a complicated man brought to complicated life by Anthony Hopkins. The 2-disc set features an all-new documentary, deleted scenes, audio commentaries, a Charlie Rose interview with Stone, and the theatrical trailers.

    blankguide.gif

    Why is it that we get bucketfuls of tripe on TV here in the US, but the UK gets a wonderfully quirky rom-sit-com like Gavin & Stacey (BBC/2 Entertain, Not Rated, Region 2 DVD-£19.99 SRP)? Gavin & Stacey are a pair of twenty-somethings who have been talking with each other for months while at work – in different offices. You see, they’ve never met face-to-face. It’s when they do that we pick up their story, as we see their relationship develop through the eyes of their friends and family – including Rob Brydon and James Cordon. It truly is a little joy, and is worth importing. Bonus features include audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and outtakes.

    blankguide.gif

    If only more lawyers were like Perry Mason and less like they actually are, the world would probably be a better place. Judge for yourself with the first volume of Perry Mason‘s third season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP). The 3-disc set features 12 episodes of just jurisprudence.

    blankguide.gif

    It’s 8 years later, and time and perspective make Recount (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) – and its dramatization of the events surrounding the Florida recount and the battle for the Presidency – a startling portrait of a political system gone wrong. Watch it and draw your own conclusions. Bonus features include an audio commentary, conversations between the actors and the men they portrayed, and an additional inside story of the 2000 election.

    blankguide.gif

    A new Fletch film seems permanently grounded, but both of the original Chevy Chase-starring vehicles starring Gregory McDonald’s investigative reporter – Fletch and Fletch Lives – are now available in The Fletch Collection (Universal, Rated PG, DVD-$19.98 SRP). Bonus features include a trio of featurettes, plus the theatrical trailers.

    blankguide.gif

    Tweenie heads will combust with excitement as a pair of Disney flicks hit DVD – the big screen Hannah Montana and Miley Cyrus: Best Of Both Worlds Concert (Walt Disney, Rated G, DVD-$34.99 SRP) and the Disney Channel’s Camp Rock (Walt Disney, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP). Both discs sport a clutch of bonus materials, including behind-the-scenes featurettes and bonus songs.

    blankguide.gif

    The doctor is back with a bunch of bizarre, incredibly rare maladies and the increasingly tedious grumpy manner in the fourth season of House (Universal, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP). The best thing about the fourth season is probably the addition of Kal Penn to the cast, as yet another new hospital staffer. The 4-disc box set features all 16 episodes, plus an audio commentary, behind-the-scenes featurettes, and interviews.

    blankguide.gif

    I’m all well and good with the Terminator franchise – I consider the first two films classics – but I found 3 to be a mediocre money grab and I simply can’t get into Terminator: The Sarah Connor Chronicles (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP)… even though it pretends the events of Terminator 3 never happened, gives us yet another John Connor, and a Terminator played by Summer Glau. The 3-disc set features all 9 first season episodes, plus a trio of audio commentaries, behind-the-scenes featurettes, audition tapes, unaired scenes, rehearsal footage, a gag reel, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    Yeah, that whole Gossip Girl (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) thing? Complete passes me by. I’m sure it’s just some younger-skewing replacement for Sex And The City. Regardless, the complete first season is now on DVD in a 5-disc set with all 18 episodes, plus unaired scenes, behind-the-scenes featurettes, music videos, a gag reel, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    Like a delightful throwback to smallish, enjoyable flicks of the 40’s and 50’s, Miss Pettigrew Lives For A Day (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP) stars Frances McDormand as the titular Miss, who decides to jump into the deep end and becomes the “social secretary” to a glamorous singer/movie star Delysia Lafosse (Amy Adams) – and turns her whole humdrum life upside down in the process. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes featurettes and deleted scenes.

    blankguide.gif

    What started out as a promising show has become largely forgettable with the third season of Prison Break (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP), as we get Michael Scofield trapped in a Panamanian prison, his brother plotting his rescue, more conspiracy layered in, and plot twists that just make you go “eh”, I can only hope the 4th season course-corrects. The 4-disc set features all 13 episodes, plus behind-the-scenes featurettes.

    blankguide.gif

    You know, it’s the ninth season of Married With Children (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$39.95 SRP) – you pretty much know what to expect. This season does, however, feature a wonderful guest appearance from the late Wolfman Jack, so that’s something. The 3-disc set features all 28 episodes of Bundy goodness.

    blankguide.gif

    Not since the feature film itself have I seen something so horribly, awkwardly designed as the new Transformers: Animated series (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP). Honestly, the design sensibility is the visual equivalent of tone deaf. I’d suggest avoiding this mess and revisiting the original 80’s series. The 2-disc box set features all 16 first season episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    Raise your hands, anyone who voiced – or even felt – a desire for a sequel to The Scorpion King. You will now be shot. Yes, there is now Scorpion King 2: Rise Of A Warrior (Universal, Rated PG-13, DVD-$29.98 SRP). Yeah. Bonus features include a featurette, deleted scenes, a gag reel, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    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

    ##

  • Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #57: The Secret Society of GI Fez

    snydecast-header.png

    snydecast-logo2.png

    Adult Swim’s Dana Snyder and FRED’s Ken Plume set out to have a literate conversation between two pals, but inevitably devolve into a verbal, and funny, free-for-all full of bickering, infighting, and the special kind of male bonding that comes from conflict expressed through the podcast medium.

    Actor/comedian/raconteur Dana Snyder, you’re certainly aware, is Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Master Shake, Squidbillies‘ Granny, Minoriteam’s Dr. Wang, and The Venture Bros.‘ Alchemist. Available for weddings and bar mitzvahs (bat availability pending), you can keep tabs on him via his website, www.eyeofthesnyder.com.

    Ken Plume is the editor-in-chief here at FRED. He is a friend of Dana’s, as well as his arch-nemesis.

    VISIT THE SNYDECAST EXPERIENCE

    linesm.gif

    KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #57: The Secret Society of GI Fez – Ken & Dana return with talk of family trees, secret societies and their memorization skills, DragonCon plans, radio DJs, Zak and his donkey, and more.

    [CONTENT WARNING]: This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #57 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/snydecast/ken_p_d_snyde_cast-57.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Dana & Ken at the Snydecast mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE SNYDECAST ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Cabin Fever #36: You All Everybody

    cabinfeverheader.png

    cabin.jpgOh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the Quick Stop…

    Cabin Fever (hosted by the twisted souls Brian Fitzpatrick and Aaron Poole) is the result of having too much time on your hands and access to your local community radio station.

    Over the course of an hour, they manage to trawl the depths of good taste, plus throw some music in. How much more could you want from a podcast?… Quality? Oh… we didn’t think of that.

    Enjoy! And we hope our cross Atlantic friends can understand the Irish accent 😉

    Hugs and Kisses,
    Aaron P. + Rev. Fitzy

    linesm.gif

    CABIN FEVER #36: You All Everybody – What do you get when you mix cough medicine, red bull cola, and cold Burger King? You get this week’s mess of an episode, recorded live and in colour from pHitzy’s basement. Many things are mulled over, including Jade Goody’s cancer, the steward of Gondor’s eating habits and LOST’s missing mancunian. Music is by the apparently awful Funky Junkies.

    [CONTENT WARNING]: Explicit contents! We say every naughty word you can think of. You have been warned!

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #36 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/cabinfever/cabin_fever_36.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Aaron & Brian at the Cabin Fever mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE CABIN FEVER ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Masters Of Song Fu #2: Round 1 Challenge Voting Begins!

    songfu.jpg

    We here at Quick Stop Entertainment are true lovers of music, in all its forms. We’re also quite keen on the spirit of competition, and of spurring creativity through said competition.

    To that end, we launched a brand new form of creative combat here at the Stop. You’ll find the very first of these competitions here.

    In this age of manufactured and painfully earnest talent contests, we’ve decided to instead shine a light on the quirky, quixotic underworld of musicians that don’t get nearly the attention they deserve.

    Ah, but I did mention that there was a competition involved…

    A week back, we sent out the call for challengers. Hundreds of you heard the call and fought for a chance to be in the initial group. 20 were selected. Of those 20, only 13 responded in time (Them’s the breaks). You’ll find information about them below.

    Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, these challengers will now be presented with a very specific songwriting challenge. They’ll be given one week to complete their songs – however they see fit, within the parameters set forth…

    lucyline.gif

    ROUND 1 CHALLENGE

    This is going to seem to be a rather straightforward challenge to kick off our second Song Fu competition. In actuality, it’s a pretty darn interesting way to give people a sense of just what your songwriting personality and style is. We’re taking a cue from a fellow named Paul Simon

    Your first challenge is to WRITE A SONG ABOUT THE MOON.

    That’s it. The only other directive is that your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 45 seconds.

    lucyline.gif

    Right now, let’s check out the Round 1 songs from each of our Masters and Challengers (streaming links for all the songs can be found after the bio section). At the bottom of the page, you’ll then be able to place your votes, and decide which 5 Challengers garner the highest votes and get to bring their Fu to… ROUND 2.

    lucyline.gif

    MASTERS OF SONG FU

    For this edition of Song Fu, we’re bringing in four (well, 7, if you’re being technical) very special Masters who you’ll be going up against. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu, and your ultimate challengers, as you’ll square off against one of them mano-a-mano in the Final Round:

    JONATHAN COULTON

    songfu-01.jpgJonathan Coulton on Jonathan Coulton: “In 2005 I left my day job writing software to pursue music full time. To keep myself busy I released a new song on this website every week for a year in a project called Thing a Week. A few of those songs became big internet hits (my folky cover of Sir Mix-a-Lot’s “Baby Got Back”, a funny video called “Flickr”, a song called “Code Monkey”), and I am now fortunate enough to make my living as a musician.

    I write about a lot of geeky stuff because I am a geek. Some of it’s funny, but a lot of it’s not so funny, and even more of it is somewhere in between. I’ve been compared to They Might Be Giants, Barenaked Ladies, Loudon Wainwright III, and other musicians you REALLY LOVE.

    I give lots of music away because I believe it helps my cause, and I love it when people use my music to create other stuff – music videos, pictures, remixes, etc. At the moment I’m unsigned, and I’m proud to say I’ve created this whole thing mostly on my own (with plenty of help from an amazingly supportive bunch of fans). But it certainly is getting busy… I will probably sell out and go Hollywood any day now…”

    Official Website: www.jonathancoulton.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Always The Moon

    PAUL & STORM

    songfu-02.jpgPaul and Storm are a comedy music duo, and they have been performing as a duo since 2004. Before that, they were one half of a cappella band Da Vinci’s Notebook for about 12 years. A Paul and Storm show is part music concert and part standup/improv comedy”“just enough of both to fit neatly in neither category. They like to engage the audience, and are known to award snack cakes and/or other prizes for good (and sometimes bad) behavior. Their show would be PERFECT as a cable special, and would make lots of money for whichever brave channel decides to air them first.

    Official Website: www.paulandstorm.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Cruel, Cruel Moon

    THE RIFFTONES

    songfu-rifftones.jpgYou know ’em as the RiffTrax trio, but here at Song Fu they are the mighty RiffTones…

    MICHAEL J. NELSON – Michael J. Nelson is the creator of Rifftrax.com, and is the former host and head writer of the Emmy-nominated, Peabody Award-winning Mystery Science Theater 3000. Since that time, he has appeared on numerous radio and TV shows, penned a regular column for TV Guide, and authored best-selling books for both HarperCollins and Abrams.

    His first book, Mike Nelson’s Movie Megacheese, thrilled critics, including Richard Schickel of Time Magazine, who said of Mike, “He’s more fun than a barrel of Val Kilmers… Smarter than a roomful of Patrick Swayzes… and almost as hilarious as Keanu Reeves.” Mike’s laugh-out-loud follow-up, Mind Over Matters, prompted Kirkus Reviews to enthuse, “From someplace called Minnesota comes a Nelson funnier than Ozzie, Ricky, Lord or Half,” and even dared to compare him to another legendary writer, saying of his Serious Speech to Business People, “[It] could easily precede [Robert] Benchley’s immortal Treasurer’s Report.” And Kirkus Reviews loved his novel, Death Rat!, saying, “Fast-paced, outrageous and funny, first-novelist Nelson’s mockery of media mendacity is as biting as La Dolce Vita or Network – only funnier!”

    Mike speaks all over the country, is a frequent guest on radio and television, and along with Bill Corbett and Kevin Murphy sells out theaters with his RiffTrax Live events.

    KEVIN MURPHY – “I’m probably best known for portraying that ol’ squat loveable bubble-headed robot Tom Servo on Mystery Science Theater 3000. In fact I’m the only member of the cast and crew to have worked on every single episode of the series, probably because I tend to like everybody. I also got to sing at the drop of a hat and collaborated with the lovely, leggy Mike Nelson on many of the show’s songs.

    Right now I’m back with Mike and Bill for www.rifftrax.com , where once again we sit in close proximity to each other and make fun of movies; unfortunately we don’t write a lot of songs… yet. To exercise my musical jollies I occasionally write and record solo and with family members, under the name The Revolutionary Communist Mountain Boys. Oh, and I’m also writing my first comic book series, symptomatic of my terminal case of Adult-onset Geekdom.

    BILL CORBETT – Beloved by literally billions of people, Bill Corbett is a former writer for Mystery Science Theater 3000 on the Sci-Fi Channel, and previously on Comedy Central. He was also a performer on the show, providing the second incarnation of the robot Crow and embarrassing himself in grand fashion as other strange characters – including the all-powerful but clueless alien The Observer, a.k.a. “Brain Guy.” Bill has always been an amateur musician (cough cough HACK cough cough), performing with garage-less garage bands, and writing / performing songs for MST3K – including the beloved-by-literally-trillions CANADA SONG. He now works with former MST3K colleagues Michael J. Nelson and Kevin Murphy at Rifftrax.com.

    Corbett is also a screenwriter and playwright. His plays have been produced at numerous theaters across the U.S., Canada, Great Britain, and (seriously) Japan. He wasn’t able to attend the latter, but assumes it was a live-manga concept.

    A native of Brooklyn, N.Y., Corbett currently spends a lot of time in Los Angeles partying into the wee hours with stars like Skeet Ulrich, Harry Hamlin, and the late Red Buttons. But he actually lives in Minneapolis, Minnesota with his wife Virginia, their two young children, and a small Jack Russell Terrier who really runs the house.

    He hopes someday to raise alpacas.

    Official Website: www.rifftrax.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Moon Shine

    DOC HAMMER

    songfu-03.jpgDoc Hammer was born in 1626 in Hamar, Norway, under the name Erik VonHamer. Being the son of a humble cobbler, not much was expected of the young man, other than to cobble and to not complain about all the cobbling. But Doc was destined for greater things. At 17, with nothing more than really well made shoes and a dream, he made his way to Antwerp to study oil painting under the great Rubens. Within a year, the two were at odds. Rubens spoke (infrequently) of Doc as “that creepy skinny kid,” and Doc spoke of Rubens’s work as “kinda unattractive if you really look at it.” By 1648, Doc had relocated to Leiden, where he found his master in Rembrandt. It was there, in his 23rd year, that Doc met “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth.” After a spicy courtship, “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth” and Doc were married. By 1650 Doc had grown weary of immortality and committed an unsuccessful suicide by burying his never-corpse in the basement of a Dutch cottage. In 1870, Doc again resurfaced. Using the name Vilhelm Hammershoi, Doc resumed his painting career with mild success. After thanking his bride for “the immortality thing” and nicely reminding her that he had “heard every one of her stories like a billion times,” “She Who Was To Deliver The Kiss Of Eternal Youth” and Doc split up in 1916. Again, Doc literally went underground until, now using the name Armond Hammer, he resurfaced and made a whole mess of money selling overpriced meds to the Russians. Sick of all the baking soda jokes, Doc faked his death. Biding his time till the MC Hammer thing had blown over, Doc again resurfaced as “Doc Hammer.” Today, Doc still paints in oils and writes, voices, and does other crap for The Venture Bros. (a show you can watch on cable TV).

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/dochammer

    (UNFORTUNATELY, DUE TO PRODUCTION REQUIREMENTS ON VENTURE BROS, DOC HAMMER HAD TO DROP OUT OF THIS ROUND OF SONG FU)

    lucyline.gif

    In a moment, you’ll discover the details of the first challenge. First, though, here is the list of challengers:

    lucyline.gif

    THE CHALLENGERS

    JEFF MacDOUGALL

    songfu-jeffmacdougall.jpgThe Deal: After 20+ years making music as a hobby, I recently wrote and recorded a song for my daughter. I got a little taste of mild success (hey, my mom liked it). So now I’m taking my music out of the closet, dusting it off, and seeing how it does in the sunshine. Who knew there was so much work in just attempting to do music for a living. I feel like I am opening a Subway franchise (Only opening a Subway franchise seems more fulfilling in a creative way).

    Official Website: www.jeffmacdougall.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:At The Moon

    RUN AT THE DOG

    songfu-runatthedog.jpgRun At The Dog are high energy, rock/pop, category-sluts with multi-gendered vocals and intricate arrangements. They are like Abba meets Faith No More meets Mos Def meets the Mormon Tabernacle Choir meets Steely Dan. The songs of this Minneapolis 5-piece are always written right away, with no respect for the calculating mind. Audience members are unsure whether to dance, laugh, or panic.

    Official Website: myspace.com/runatthedog

    ROUND 1 SONG:Noon Moon

    JASON MORRIS

    songfu-jasonmorris.jpgI suppose I am what you could call a “Multi-Instrumentalist”. That is a nice way of saying “Jack-of-all-trades, Master-of-none”. I began playing drums as a teenager and spent a great deal of energy during my 20’s trying to “make it” in the music biz. As a drummer, I have had the opportunity to play with some pretty incredible musicians, garnering literally DOZENS of fans over the years. In 2004 I joined the band Celestial Static, and spent several years melting some face with good friends Jeremy and Julie Elzerman. Once that ran its course, I decided to spend more time locked away in my studio, writing my own songs and learning to play guitar, bass and sing. It doesn’t pay the bills, but I have a good time doing it.

    Official Website: www.jason-morris.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:The Universe Outsourced The Moon

    EDRIC HALEEN

    songfu-edrichaleen.jpgEdric has been writing music (off and on) for the past fifteen years. He wrote and directed a musical, The Pushcart War, based on Jean Merrill’s wonderful novel. He has written and/or arranged a number of songs for various friends – some commissioned, some as surprises. He loves acting in community theatre, and is inspired by the music of Stephen Sondheim, Jason Robert Brown, Adam Guettel, Lynn Ahrens and Stephen Flaherty – and yes, Jonathan Coulton, who in addition to writing wonderful songs, also served as a portal to finding out about the Song Fu competition.

    Official Website: www.youtube.com/watch?v=2arBC7f-6FY

    ROUND 1 SONG:Blue Moon

    “BUCKETHAT” BOBBY MATHESON

    songfu-buckethatbobby.jpg“BucketHat” Bobby Matheson is an awkward teenage accordionist and multi-instrumentalist who specializes in superhero-themed and “Comedy” music, and who works for minimum wage in the fast food industry. With his style varying from polka to folk, punk to pop, and then again from rock to bluegrass, we’re left unsure what to expect. One thing for certain is that Bobby doesn’t like talking about himself in the third person, and therefore will stop this silliness right now.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/buckethatbobby

    ROUND 1 SONG:I Hate The Moon

    INSANE IAN

    songfu-ianbonds.jpgInsane Ian is a comedian and writer from Baltimore, Maryland who specializes in all things nerdy, both in parody and original compositions. From Sci-fi TV shows and films, to video games, to comic books – no nerdy topic escapes his sardonic (and satiric) wit. Among his peers – such as Sudden Death, the great Luke Ski, Jonathan Coulton and, of course, “Weird Al” Yankovic – he is the only artist to have written this bio, and remains at the top of that list. Currently, his song “Guitar Hero” (from his upcoming album n3rds0ngs) is the number three most requested song on the Dr. Demento radio show for last month. Usually for a song, I.I. surrounds himself with talented people to make himself look better…and now is no exception, as friend and producer Mike S. helps on instrumental duties.

    Official Website: www.insaneian.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Luna, See?

    BRAM TANT

    songfu-bramtant.jpgHello everyone. I’m Bram Tant, a 19-year-old Belgian student who enjoys playing the electric/bass guitar, singing, and writing songs in his spare time. I’ve always dreamed of becoming a professional musician, and I’m psyched to have been selected for this awesome contest. Having greatly enjoyed the first edition, I want to test my humble songwriting Fu against other (hopefully) great artists. Unfortunately, I do not own decent recording equipment – all I have is a computer microphone. Still, I’ll try the best I can to record the best song I can write. About musical influences – lately I’ve been really awed at/inspired by the work of Jonathan Coulton, and I found out about this contest through his website/forum. Else, I enjoy a bit of everything. My musical style is a bit hard to define: I play a bunch of stuff like soft/hard/classic rock, punk, metal, folk, jazz, lots of improvisational stuff, and I seem to have a knack for writing love songs, probably because of a subconscious yearning for love… Anyway, I wish the best of luck to all the other competitors, and may the best win!

    Official Website: studwww.ugent.be/~btant/

    ROUND 1 SONG:What Gives

    MICK BORDET

    songfu-mickbordet.jpgThe phrase “jack of all trades, master of none” could almost have been invented to describe Mick Bordet’s musical existence. Writing and recording songs since the tender age of thirteen, a quarter of a century’s experience has failed to produce any music his family can relate to. This may be because he steadfastly insists on bouncing between and across genres at every opportunity like a hummingbird with ADD, or perhaps it’s the eclectic collection of instruments he utilises for his sonic palette, from guitar and ukulele to theremin, yobstick and electric harmonium. Mick is a founder member of “The Lunacy Board”, Scotland’s premier progressive avant-garde skiffle duo, and cites influences as diverse as Edgard Varèse, Ivor Cutler, Conlon Nancarrow, and Roy Harper, to name but four. The duo have recently released three debut albums, including one written, recorded, and mixed within a single day ““ perfect training for the Song Fu challenge.

    Official Website: www.lunacyboard.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:First Impressions

    STEVE CHATTERTON

    songfu-stevechatterton.jpgSteve Chatterton is an independent musician living in the suburbs of Toronto. Known primarily for his jingle work on local television and his electronic project 11t1, he’s now putting all of his musical efforts into the ever-elusive self-titled singer-songwriter recording project he’s been wanting to get around to since he was 10-years-old and had just discovered The Beatles. Steve is an honors graduate of the jazz guitar program at Mohawk College, and has since performed in a wide array of bands that nobody has ever heard of. After retiring from performing to concentrate on raising his kids, he’s recently put together his own basement studio and has set a personal goal of producing at least one song a month.

    Official Website: music.stevechatterton.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Someday (You’ll See)

    TOM ROONEY

    songfu-tomrooney.jpgTom Rooney has participated under the band name Thomas F in the Record Production Month Challenge for the past two years, successfully completing an album of 10 new original songs within the month of February. The challenge provided a welcoming environment of diverse artists from around the globe all frantically striving to beat the end of the month deadline while encouraging and supporting each other. This experience has given Tom the confidence to put his music out there, for better or worse. Most feedback has been politely positive. Raving masses of fans still to come.

    Official Website: www.virb.com/thomasf

    ROUND 1 SONG:Sparkle In The Night

    NATE SHIVERS

    songfu-nateshivers.jpgFun, Zesty, Acoustic, Energetic, Crunchy. Some of these words describe the Baritone-Ukulele-wielding N8 Shivers (the others describe Taco Bell’s newest food-like invention). He began writing songs at the age of two, and taught himself to play the uke a mere 17 years later. N8’s Family members claim he’s the best uke-playing song writer they’re related to. He enjoys Stand-up Comedy, Coen Brothers movies, Chilly sandwiches, and Canadian sitcoms. His Turn-offs include Banana Flavored Things, Republicans, and Mountain Dew. N8 is currently employed as a Wizard in southern Ohio.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/ncomma8

    ROUND 1 SONG:Hide

    JEREMY PIERSON

    songfu-jeremypierson.jpgJeremy Pierson is a struggling artist of that so-called RenGen crowd. His passion for music has run deep through his veins since his earliest days of hearing The Beatles, Led Zeppelin, Stevie wonder, and Marvin Gaye on his parent’s record player at home. As a songwriter, his influences cull from the likes of those legendary artists already mentioned, and include influences from Stevie Ray Vaughan, Jamiroquai, Earth, Wind & Fire, Curtis Mayfield, Waylon Jennings, Willie Nelson, Smokey Robinson, Bob Schneider, Bruce Springsteen, Bob Dylan, and Paul Simon. His greatest barrier as a commercially successful artist is clearly his lack of interest in limiting his musical creativity to any one genre. Jeremy also feeds his creative juices through his artistic work in photography, film, writing, illustration, and design.

    Official Website: www.jeremypierson.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:Shadows On The Moon

    JUTZE SCHULT

    songfu-jutzeschult.jpgJohannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to make songs about weird stories and situations. It’s all about creating a musical scenario that is somewhat original, yet believable by some stretch of imagination. Jutze used to play drums in a heavy metal band, and then founded his own pop band where he played guitar. These days he’s mainly doing solo work for the fun of it.

    Official Website: www.jutze.com

    ROUND 1 SONG:The Moon Is Made Of Cheese

    [display_podcast]

    lucyline.gif

    ROUND 1 VOTING

    And now, it’s time for that all important voting, where you’ll decide which 5 Challengers get to move on to Round 2. Please remember, you can only vote FOR ONE song – so choose very carefully. Also, be sure to vote for your favorite song from our reigning Masters of Song Fu – Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm, or The RiffTones. You may only vote once, so make it count. VOTING CLOSES AT 11:59pm EST on THURSDAY, AUGUST 28th.

    lucyline.gif

    ROUND 1 VOTING – THE CHALLENGERS

    [poll id=”5″]

    lucyline.gif

    ROUND 1 VOTING – THE MASTERS

    [poll id=”6″]

    lucyline.gif

    If you triumph, not only will you win remarkable (and potentially off-putting) bragging rights and a clutch of fantastic mystery prizes, you will also become the proud owner of the magnificent, one-of-a-kind MASTER OF SONG FU TROPHY, designed and handcrafted by [adult swim] superstar Dana Snyder. Yes. Dana Snyder.

    Good luck, and bring on the Fu.

    lucyline.gif

  • Scrubs Blog: My Fairy Tale Dungeon

    scrubsheader.jpg

    VIDEO BLOG #104: “My Fairy Tale Dungeon” ““
    The countdown to the new season has begun, but to tide you over we continue our look at the filming of the fairy tale 7th season finale, this time focusing on a look into the dungeon.

    line3.gif

    [flashvideo filename=”http://asitecalledfred.com/scrubs/104_my_fairy_tale_dungeon_stream.flv” width=”480″ height=”278″ image=http://asitecalledfred.com/scrubs/scrubsvideoblog.jpg /]

  • Win THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Walt Disney Home Video, three (3) copies of THE NIGHTMARE BEFORE CHRISTMAS on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 27th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win NCIS: THE FIFTH SEASON on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of NCIS: THE FIFTH SEASON on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 27th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, August 27th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Party Favors: First In Flight

    partyfavors1.jpg

    GETTYSBURG – I want to be the next Vice President of the United States of America.

    Any party is free to make a play for me. I’m not picky. I just want the little job. I don’t want the big guy’s job. Let me ride a candidate’s coat tails in November. After eight years at the Naval Observatory, there will be no going for #1. I’ll be happy to host a variety show with Jennifer Lopez and Mark Anthony on Univision.

    My goal is to restore the office of the Vice President to its historic standing as a completely useless position. Did you know that at one time the Vice President had to provide two forms of ID to use cash at Washington DC’s Piggly Wiggly? It’s true.

    I don’t want to set agendas. I don’t even want a real staff. There’s no need to beef up the power of the gig. As the VP, my role should be opening supermarkets, throwing out baseballs and lowering dead foreign leaders. The man-sized safe in the VP’s office will be yanked out to make space for my man-sized HD-TV. My schedule will involve attempting to win a game of Madden ’08 against the computer. You won’t see me exposed on Daily Show for plotting the overthrow of a sovereign nation. The only International Incident dedicated to me will be burping too loud at the iHop.

    I don’t want to bring back respect to the position. I want to bring back the obscurity. School children will be asked, “Who is the Vice President of the USA?” Their proper reply should be, “We have one?” Remember FDR’s first vice president? Do you know him? It’s a $2,000 question on Jeopardy. It’s John N. Garner! He described the job as “not worth a bucket of warm piss.” Let me be America’s Trucker Bomb!

    My only promise is to bring the party to the people. As long as you show a proper driver’s license, you can drop by for a frosty mug at my office. It’s not like you’ll interrupt me doing any real work. My office will be located inside the TGIFridays on Pennsylvania Avenue.

    If you’re a presidential nominee with an open slot for #2, take a squat on me!

    THE MYSTERY OF KITTY HAWK

    And now here’s a short film about my visit to Kitty Hawk, North Carolina.

    DVD SHELF

    It’s political convention season. Unless you’re a fan of goofy hats, you’ll probably want to spend a little more time with the DVD player. There’s plenty of selections this month. You’ll be able to catch up on last season’s shows in order to be prepped for the fall premiere. You can also get a real history of politics instead of the party approved bullet points with a few titles.

    Chicago 10 reminds us of a time when a party convention could be more newsworthy than a Jim Nabor’s Variety Show episode. This documentary describes what happened when radical youths dared to take the streets of Chicago during the 1968 Democratic Convention. Director Brett Morgan elaborates on the techniques his crew used on Kid Stays In the Picture. He mixes vintage news footage with animation to create a vision a hyper view of the riot and the court proceedings. We get a up close and uptight view of how Mayor Richard Daley crushed the Yippies camped out in the park. Thankfully the soundtrack is not the usual ’60s superhits that get abused by VH1 specials. The best music matching the atmosphere moment is when the cops clean out the park to the sounds of Black Sabbath. This is where the animation and actual footage blend to create an intense fear that free speech can’t be shouted through tear gas. Chicago 10 is a must own for anyone wants to remember a time when people did rebel against a political machine.

    John Oliver: Terrifying Times shows how the English Daily Show correspondent doesn’t merely read political jokes as a fake reporter. He’s a political junky who dares to comment on these soul sucking times. This is the speech that you won’t be hearing from a convention stage. What a shame. This an expanded and uncensored version of the Comedy Central version that now runs 56 minutes. They throw in a few segments from The Daily Show including him and Larry Wilmore’s “N Word” special.” Those two need their own TV show. This is the only guy standing on a stage talking about politics action you’ll need to watch for the next month.

    The Presidents Collection brings together 10 documentaries about the men who called 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue home. Teddy Roosevelt, Woodrow Wilson, FDR, JFK (and other Kennedys), LBJ, Nixon, Jimmy Carter, Ronald Reagan and George H.W. Bush get their lives and administrations probed in this series that aired on PBS’s American Experience. If you bemoan the fact that they didn’t take a Poli-Sci course in college, here’s a second chance at all that education. By the time you finish watching all 35 hours contained in this boxset, you’ll look like a genius during Jeopardy. You’ll know which rugged president had asthma. This is the perfect back to school gift for the budding presidential scholar in the house.

    Nightmare Before Christmas: Collector’s Edition is getting the Blu-ray love with plenty of time before Halloween or Christmas. You can have this before the Jerry Lewis’ Labor Day Telethon for Muscular Dystrophy. The bonus feature that excites me the most is “What’s This? Jack’s Haunted Mansion Holiday Tour.” See what the folks at Disneyland did to give the classic Haunted Mansion a little Tim Burton action. Dana Snyder should approve of this. The disc features a DisneyFile Digital Copy so you can watch it on your iPod. They also include the “Frankenweenie” and “Vincent” shorts made by Burton during his early Disney days.

    Transformers: Two-Disc Special Edition finally gives last summer’s blockbuster the 1080p action. It’s thrilling to finally see the fine details on Optimus Prime and Megatron as they knock each other around. You also get a thrill from seeing the fine details on Megan Fox. Why wasn’t there more of her chassis in this car show? Jon Voight makes the transforming robots realistic. Shia LaBeouf is his generations Jeff Goldblum. Why wasn’t Jeff cast as Shia’s dad? The special effects shimmer in this upgrade from the DVD. The second disc bonus features about the cast. crew. Autobots and Decepticons are in HiDef. It’s a Blu-ray celebration worthy of a late night geek out. There’s a certificate in the case for a $10 rebate if you upgrade from your old creaky DVD.

    Cheers: Season 10 brings us to the penultimate time for the gang that haunted Boston’s most popular bar. “Where Have All the Floorboards Gone” brings back Celtic superstar Kevin McHale. Cliff messes with the Hall of Fame forward’s mind when they argue about how many bolts are used on the Boston Garden’s parquet floor. The bar trivia destroys his game. They even have Kevin’s wife (Lynn McHale) playing herself. She’s a natural when she disrupts Kevin’s plea to Sam for sanity. Why don’t they have a reality show on NBA TV? Johnny Carson makes a cameo in “Heeeeeere’s… Cliffy!” The feud between Cheers and Gary’s Olde Towne Tavern heightens in “Bar Wars V” and “Bar Wars VI.” They don’t use “Monster Mash” when Gary sabotaged Sam’s jukebox. But they came up with a great “Vampire Twist” song as the substitute. The big wrap up of the season is a freakish wedding. No need to spoil the surprise of the bride and groom if you’ve forgotten the episode. Hopefully the final season will be served up fast.

    Wings: Season 7 is the next to last flight of the Sandpiper Air. For me, this show has always been where Mr. Monk was found as Tony Shalhoub stoles scenes with a stealth attack. The first episode kicks off with a burned out house. Thomas Hayden Church’s big farewell is “The Person Formerly Known as Lowell.” He has to leave the business after witnessing a mobster hit. Guess it’s better than him catching a strange disease. Wings is all about the Shalhoub anyway. He sticks it out till the end.

    Everybody Hates Chris: The Third Season keeps the spite coming as our hero enters his teens. The kid (based on Chris Rock) enters 9th grade. You think high school was rough. Imagine if your high school years had to be pumped up to be a sitcom. There’s a good anti-getting caught with cigarettes episode in “Everybody Hates Being Cool.” Turns out that after getting nailed in school, his sister gets to blackmail him to keep the info from his parents. Chris just gets way too much hate. It’s a miracle that this show can keep up the laughs instead of turning into an MSNBC Murder Mystery.

    The Bodyguard & The Bodyguard 2 have been doubled up inside a case although each film is on a separate disc. Tony Jaa (Ong-Bak) serves up his buttkicking with Thai flavor. Jaa has serious cinematic moves. The Bodyguard is a redemption story as Jaa loses a client the hard way. When he discovers the killers are coming after the guy’s son; he redeems his failure by saving him for free. The Bodyguard 2 has him now as a counter terrorism agent. He has to infiltrate and shut down a terrorist front. Consider this a fantastic kickass double bill for the late summer.

    Eli Stone: The Complete First Season collects the 13 episodes of the strange replacement series that came on after Lost. Eli is a lawyer whose brain aneurysm causes him to have weird visions slide into his reality. He keeps having George Michael pop up and sing “Faith.” That’s never a good thing to have the Wham man appear in the men’s room. Jonny Lee Miller plays Eli. You’d known him better as the Bond-loving Sickboy from Trainspotting. He was also the first Mr. Angelina Jolie. The show does its best to give a semi-serious message with a whimsical flavor.

    NCIS The Fifth Season has the 18 episodes that survived the strike ravaged season. What makes this show cool is that it allows people to view David McCallum as more than just the sidekick on The Man from U.N.C.L.E.. He’s not reduced to selling the Helsinki Formula Jr. He’s working on a top ranked show. The series allows Mark Harmon to graduate from Summer School. Mostly I watch to see Pauley Perrette, America’s favorite goth sweetheart. The season ended with one of their own on the slab. I’m not going to give the toe tag away.

    The Untouchables: Season 2, Volume 2 whips up another serving of old school gangster action . There are few TV cops that are as all business as Robert Stack in the role of Eliot Ness. The man did even go to the bathroom when he was on the clock. What’ll delight TV fans is the variety of stars that mobbed it up for the camera. “Augie ‘the Banker’ Ciamino” has Keenan Wynn (Dr. Strangelove) running a racket. This would be fun enough, but his main goon is none other that Harry Dean Stanton (Big Love). Harry was once a young actor! “The Antidote” has Telly Savalas (Kojak) as a big time bootlegger. Who loves him? Anybody who wants bathtub hooch. Victor Buono (Batman‘s King Tut) runs a counterfeiting ring in “Mr. Moon.” Before he booked ’em on Hawaii Five-O, James McArthur ran heroin as uncovered on “Death for Sale.” While Ness was a real lawman, there is nothing historical about these cases. Do not use these episodes as footnotes in term papers.

    Reprise is another literary movie from Scott Rudin. Two Norwegian novelists get tense with each other when one gets quick success while the other only gets rejection slips. It’s good to know that people in Scandinavia also suffer this affliction. The really deals with that horrible sensation that your happiness is not that infectious. This is a tough subject, but director Joachim Trier does a good job showing how writing is a competitive game. Nothing stinks more than seeing the less talented schlub from the creative writing class score with a poem in The New Yorker.

    DONALD CLAUS?

    The tabloids have gone nuts on Donald Trump’s offer to buy Ed McMahon’s mansion and rent it back to the elderly sidekick. It seems like such an amazing gesture of charity from the heartless mogul. They just might make a Christmas special out of this act.

    But it’s so messed up.

    This isn’t a case that Ed “lost” his house in a freak scam. He wasn’t cheated out of it in a fixed Poker game or by an accountant. Nobody fled to Brazil with all of Ed’s publishing lottery money. Ed is in trouble because he hasn’t paid his mortgage to the tune of $644,000. If Ed won’t cut a check to maintain ownership, what are the odds that he’s going to keep up rent payments? In the world of landlords, Ed is known as a major risk. Only people lower than Ed on the “risk list” are folks with a history of apartments that explode from suspected meth labs.

    Ed has had the house on the market for two years. He wants to sell the joint. Why are you going to buy his mansion and force him to live there? Why not just move Ed into a Trump Condo complex?

    This just isn’t an optimal charity situation for the Donald to be Santa to the man who made a fortune saying, “Here’s Johnny!” It’s not like they are even golfing buddies. It appears Trump hasn’t spoken to Ed about any of these plans. Having worked on Extreme Makeover, I can assure you that the people who get the free house have been interviewed by the show before Ty arrives with the megaphone. Does he really know what Ed can afford to pay to live in his house?

    There is only one real solution for Trump. He needs to hire Ed to be his sidekick on The Apprentice. Have him introduce the contestants and the corporate fatcats. Let him sit in the reception area of your “boardroom.” Instead of paying Ed the big bucks, Trump gives him the house’s deed at the end of the season. Declare two winners in the finale. Use the house in a couple episodes to get it considered a business expense. By giving away the house, Donald doesn’t have to worry about the future tabloid headlines of “Trump Evicts McMahon’s Widow!”

    JAGR BISCUITS

    After two visits to Red Robin Gourmet Burgers, I have no plans to be dragged back for a third time. While this chain is really inventive on what to put on the burger, they need to understand that what matters most is the meat. Both times the hamburger patties were dry and spongy. It was like a sponge cooked for medium well. For the price and hype, I want a nice juicy burger. Fuddruckers can do this. Char-Grill serves ’em up like this. Even Ruby Tuesdays understands the juicy concept.

    Judging from the perfect round shape of the patties, I sense they’re punched out and frozen. When gourmet hamburger on the menu, is it wrong to anticipate it being done with freshly ground meat? Or thawed out before hitting the griddle. I don’t want to munch of a bovine hockey puck. The brass of Red Robin need to back away from the bar and taste each others’ meat.

    DROWNED WORLD

    Why did NBC cancel The Michael Phelps Show? I was really getting hooked on this story about a guy who swims against all comers. Why did Zucker pink slip the guy? I was hoping that he’d eventually lose to the Harlem Globetrotters.

  • Win THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORY!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Titan Books, five (5) copies of THE ALFRED HITCHCOCK STORY.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, August 26th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, August 26th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win THE UNTOUCHABLES: SEASON 2 – Volume 2 on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of THE UNTOUCHABLES: SEASON 2 – VOLUME 2 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, August 26th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Tuesday, August 26th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS: SEASON 3 on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of EVERYBODY HATES CHRIS: SEASON 3 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, August 25th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, August 25th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Win PERRY MASON: SEASON 3 – VOLUME 1 on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Paramount Home Video, five (5) copies of PERRY MASON: SEASON 3 – VOLUME 1 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Monday, August 25th.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Monday, August 25th.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #56: Stupendium Of World Knowledge

    snydecast-header.png

    snydecast-logo2.png

    Adult Swim’s Dana Snyder and FRED’s Ken Plume set out to have a literate conversation between two pals, but inevitably devolve into a verbal, and funny, free-for-all full of bickering, infighting, and the special kind of male bonding that comes from conflict expressed through the podcast medium.

    Actor/comedian/raconteur Dana Snyder, you’re certainly aware, is Aqua Teen Hunger Force’s Master Shake, Squidbillies‘ Granny, Minoriteam’s Dr. Wang, and The Venture Bros.‘ Alchemist. Available for weddings and bar mitzvahs (bat availability pending), you can keep tabs on him via his website, www.eyeofthesnyder.com.

    Ken Plume is the editor-in-chief here at FRED. He is a friend of Dana’s, as well as his arch-nemesis.

    VISIT THE SNYDECAST EXPERIENCE

    linesm.gif

    KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #56: Stupendium Of World Knowledge – Ken & Dana return with a trip to the workshop, a salute to their oldest listener, in-flight emergencies, and then go to war on Wikipedia. War!

    [CONTENT WARNING]: This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #56 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/snydecast/ken_p_d_snyde_cast-56.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Dana & Ken at the Snydecast mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE SNYDECAST ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 8/15/08: Cartman’s Valley

    weekendshopping.png

    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…

    Time is flying by – I can not believe we’re already to the penultimate volume of the full-color Bone volumes from Scholastic, Treasure Hunters (Scholastic, Softcover-$9.99 SRP, Hardcover-$19.99 SRP). As Jeff Smith’s already-classic tale of the Bone cousins and their travels, trials, and tribulations in the mysterious valley come to a close (for the second time), I gotta admit – I want more adventures in that world. If you haven’t been buying these releases, do so. Now.

    blankguide.gif

    thinkgeek-01.jpg

    Have you ever been on an airplane, or a trip, or just simply not near a power outlet or batteries when your cell phone goes dead? Or a camera? Or any other important portable device in your life? Well, you need a monkey. Nor a real monkey, silly – a PowerMonkey ($49.99)! This little silver charger holds power for up to a year, and provides instant electrical nourishment for more devices than you can shake a stick at. Get this. You know you need it.

    thinkgeek-02.jpg

    blankguide.gif

    While it’s by no means their weakest season, the eleventh season of South Park (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP) certainly felt like a slip from the incredible satiric heights of the past few seasons. In many ways, it felt more like a return to the storytelling of earlier seasons. However, it also included a high water mark for the series as a whole – the incredible “Imaginationland” trilogy. The 3-duisc set features all 14 episodes, plus the regular clutch of mini-commentaries with Trey Parker & Matt Stone.

    blankguide.gif

    I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again – When it comes to chronicling comic book history – and the men and women that made it – Twomorrows has mastered the fine art of mixing equal parts scholarship, objectivism, and a palpable love of the medium. They’ve also now become the go-to source for tomes detailing the published exploits of a given character or superhero title with their “Companion” series, the latest of which is The Flash Companion (Twomorrows, $26.95 SRP). As you can guess, its focus is the scarlet speedster himself – in fact, all four of the characters to hold that title, going back to Jay Garrick and on down to Bart Allen – and the creators who shaped him. There’s also a very nice tribute to the late Mike Wieringo.

    blankguide.gif

    Far too soon, The Wire (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP) comes to an explosively sublime close with the DVD arrival of the fifth and final season, as everything turns a bit meta when it looks at how the media portrays the issues it’s presented over the years. The 4-disc set features all 10 episodes, plus 6 audio commentaries, a retrospective on the first four seasons, and a documentary on the role of the media.

    blankguide.gif

    The BBC is dipping it’s toes ever-so-gingerly into the Blu-Ray waters with the release of The BBC High Definition Natural History Collection (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$179.98 SRP) – containing the specials Planet Earth, Galapogas, Wild China, and Ganges – as well as the first season of Robin Hood (BBC, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$99.98 SRP). Here’s hoping some of their classic comedy – and Doctor Who – are not too far behind.

    blankguide.gif

    Combine the space age with the rise of the hippie movement, and you’ve got the design and living spaces lovingly collected in the immense Spaced Out: Crash Pads, Hippie Communes, Infinity Machines, and Other Radical Environments of The Psychedelic Sixties (Rizzoli, $65.00 SRP). It’s a massive tome illustrated with hundreds of photographs of structures that are both fascinating and structurally unsound.

    blankguide.gif

    Often abbreviated to JRJR, John Romita, Jr. gets the Modern Masters (Twomorrows, $14.95 SRP) treatment – which means the usual in-depth interview, scads of artwork spanning his career, and a must-have place on your shelf. Yes – you heard me. Get it already!

    blankguide.gif

    For anyone who thought that a move to the big American network would ruin the low-rent, brutal one-upsmanship of Kenny Vs Spenny (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), have no fear – it’s every bit as combative, awkward, and wonderfully off-putting as it ever was in its original Canadian form. See for yourself on the complete first season set, sporting all 8 episodes, plus a pair of bonus episodes, deleted scenes, a featurette, and audio commentaries.

    blankguide.gif

    First printed in 1926, Up & Down New York (Universe, $19.95 SRP) is a love letter to the architecture, people, and places of Manhattan in the roaring twenties, illustrated by Tony Sarg. It’s a wonderful time capsule that has, thankfully, been reprinted in this new edition.

    blankguide.gif

    Climb aboard the second volume of The Love Boat‘s first season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$36.98 SRP), featuring plenty of soapy awkwardness and c-list celebrities (and Annette!), all setting sail for love. The 4-disc set features 12 episodes, plus episode promos and the movie of the week The New Love Boat.

    blankguide.gif

    The animation is borderline unwatchable and the writing is subpar, but there’s quite the crappy charm remaining in the cartoons featured in the DC Comics Super Heroes: The Filmation Adventures (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP). The 2-disc set features 18 episodes, plus a featurette on the legacy of Filmation Studios (never thought I’d see that).

    blankguide.gif

    After the delightfully bizarre Night Court, Harry Anderson starred as the fictionalized version of columnist Dave Berry in the tepid but amiable family sitcom Dave’s World (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$44.99 SRP). It’s certainly a watchable series, but doesn’t hold a candle to the Court. The 3-disc first season set features all 23 episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    Another month, and another batch of classic Doctor Who adventures come to disc, starting with a 2-disc 25th Anniversary Edition of The Five Doctors (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$34.98 SRP), featuring audio commentaries, documentaries, interviews, featurettes, and more. Also available is Black Orchid (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), from the Peter Davison years, and the William Hartnell era The Time Meddler (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$24.98 SRP) – both of which are equally loaded up with extras.

    blankguide.gif

    The title pretty much explains it all – DC Comics Covergirls (Universe, $39.95 SRP) is a loving look at almost 75 years worth of women gracing the covers of the venerable comics company, from superheroines and girlfriends to damsels in distress and villains. Written by longtime editor an scribe Louise Simonson, the book features an intro from everyone’s favorite “good girl artist”, Adam Hughes.

    blankguide.gif

    It’s kind of sad when composer Kevin Kiner’s score for Star Wars: The Clone Wars (Sony Classical, $18.97 SRP) is in some ways better than what John Williams gave us in the prequels. Give this disc a spin and hear for yourself.

    blankguide.gif

    If you’ve ever had the desire to see mouse & cat duo Tom and Jerry engage in a slew of x-treme sports, you’ll find plenty of cartoons with the theme in the 5th volume of Tom and Jerry Tales (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP).

    blankguide.gif

    Kiddie fare (sure to entertain my nephews) this week include a pair of new Nickelodeon titles – Go Diego Go: Great Dinosaur Rescue and Ni Hao, Kai-Lan: Super Special Days (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP each). Bonus features include music videos and galleries.

    blankguide.gif

    Honestly, the only reason I gave Caroline In The City (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$44.99 SRP) the time of day in those halcyon, preppie 90’s was because of the perennially cute Lea Thompson, who played the titular neurotic New York cartoonist on the lookout for love with a batch of wacky friends at her side. The 3-disc first season set features all 24 episodes, plus episode promos.

    blankguide.gif

    I’ve said it before, but I’m a big fan of Medicom’s line of vinyl Disney figures. The sculpts are always fantastic, they capture the character perfectly, and they put all of our domestic licensees to shame (at least until Electric Tiki’s line of Disney mini-maquettes kicks in). Here’s one of Medicom’s latest – the Roen Crown Mickey ($44.99). Check out the pic below…

    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

    ##

  • Win CAMP ROCK on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Walt Disney Home Video, three (3) copies of CAMP ROCK on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 22nd.

    Enter the contest!
    Email:
    First name:
    Last name:
    Street Address:
    Address Line 2 (if needed):
    City:
    State/Province/Whatever:
    Zip Code/Postal Code:
    Country:
    Birth Month:
    Birth Day:
    Birth Year:

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Friday, August 22nd.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.

  • Cabin Fever #35: Olympics and Bourbons and Rain, Oh My!

    cabinfeverheader.png

    cabin.jpgOh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the Quick Stop…

    Cabin Fever (hosted by the twisted souls Brian Fitzpatrick and Aaron Poole) is the result of having too much time on your hands and access to your local community radio station.

    Over the course of an hour, they manage to trawl the depths of good taste, plus throw some music in. How much more could you want from a podcast?… Quality? Oh… we didn’t think of that.

    Enjoy! And we hope our cross Atlantic friends can understand the Irish accent 😉

    Hugs and Kisses,
    Aaron P. + Rev. Fitzy

    linesm.gif

    CABIN FEVER #35: Olympics and Bourbons and Rain, Oh My! – This week the lads come totally unprepared, even forgetting to plug in their mics for the first ten minutes of recording. A trip to the thrift shop supplies them with cheap but tasty biscuits to munch throughout, serving as perfect fuel for discussions on the Beijing Olympics, folks’ fear of spiders, beer cans from around the world, Aaron’s growing Russophobia, the sad loss of two legends in two days, and the imminent return of the Premier League. Due to popular demand, music is provided throughout by The Vinny Club.

    [CONTENT WARNING]: Explicit contents! We say every naughty word you can think of. You have been warned!

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #35 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/cabinfever/cabin_fever_35.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Aaron & Brian at the Cabin Fever mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE CABIN FEVER ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • Win SMART PEOPLE on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    We’re giving away, in conjunction with Miramax Home Video, three (3) copies of SMART PEOPLE on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Thursday, August 21st.

    CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!

    Official Rules

    No member of Quick Stop Entertainment or their immediate families may enter.

    No Purchase necessary to win.

    Must be 18 years of age or older to enter.

    One entry per day, per person.

    All submitted entries must be received by 11:59pm EST on Thursday, August 21st.

    The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.