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.
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.
KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #145: Get ‘Em, Flash! – Ken & Dana return with talk of beard growth rates, celebrity death encounters, class reunions, coloring books, and a master thespian.
[CONTENT WARNING]:This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!
In conjunction with Universal Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of IT’S COMPLICATED on Blu-Ray.
In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of HAMLET on DVD & Blu-Ray.
In conjunction with New Video, we’re giving away five (5) copies of THE AWKWARD COMEDY SHOW on DVD.
What happens when two young men let their love of movies, comic books, and all things “geek” take over their lives? They run away from their families, bringing only the most essential DVDs and comics to their secret, highly fortified underground bunker in sunny Southern California, where they start recording podcasts that will change the world.
Are they heroes?
No.
Are they geniuses?
Far from it.
Are they the future of this planet?
I sure hope not.
Simply put… Matt Cohen and Jesse Rivers are “Bagged and Boarded”.
BAGGED & BOARDED #54: Just A Little Stoned – In which Matt and Jesse get current and discuss the new MIA video, Gizmodogate, and a slew of other newsworthy topics. Oh, and Matt is ridiculously high. Bagged and Boarded: Purely Professional since 1874.
[CONTENT WARNING]:This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
I’m currently packing for a trip to Atlanta tomorrow in order to take part in www.RedNoseNet.com so I didn’t have time this week to talk about the album “Volume 2” from She & Him (which is going to be my soundtrack for this summer, I can already tell) and the new album coming out from The Bluetones called A New Athens (which I got a pre-general release listen to and knocked my socks off). It’s a shame because by the time I do another one of these they’ll be old news. Just go listen to them yourself and thank me later. Luckily though I only had a few requests in my inbox this time round so let’s get cracking.
This is my MySpace music review column. There are many like it, but this one’s mines. My MySpace page is my best friend. It is my life. I must master my friends list as I must master my life. Without me, my MySpace is useless, without my MySpace, I am useless. I must fire my reviews true. I must shoot straighter than my readers who are trying to kill me, I must shoot the musicians before they shoot me. I will. Before God I swear this creed: My music review column and myself are the defenders of MySpace, we are the masters of our enemy, we are the saviors of my ears. So be it, until there is no friend requests, but peace. Amen
———————————————————————— WRIL www.myspace.com/wrillove
Wril is an R&B crooner from Chicago. I don’t get too many R&B singers sending me requests. Due to this being such an unusual event I feel I should do something a little different with this critique. I’m going to summon the pop gods of American Idol in order to truly give Wril the grilling he deserves.
Randy Jackson: Yo dawg, listen up. You know I like you right? I like what you’re doing. Some sexy ballads with an old school vibe. You and me are old school, right dawg? But yo, listen up. You were on pitch most of the time, I can’t fault you for that but I felt it lacked a bit of power is places. I needed it to punch through to the other side. But overall I thought it was nice. Good job. What you think, E?
Ellen Degeneres: Are you wrilly Wril? I wrilly don’t know. But I do know that I liked it. Your performance had some touching moments. I enjoyed it. It was definitely entertaining. But your name is wrilly silly.
Kara DioGuardi: First of all, let me make gestures with my hands for about 5 minutes. Then make ridiculous constipated faces… I really felt your emotion when singing. I felt like you really connected with your music and that this was a work of passion for you. Don’t you just want to punch me in the face though? I mean, seriously, how annoying am I?
Simon Cowell: If we’re being honest with each other here, and we are, that wasn’t great. It was OK, you sang it well and it was genuine but I’ve heard this a million times before and a million times better. I just don’t see how I can make enough money out of you for this to be worth it. Please fuck off.
And that’s kind of how I felt about it all. Nice to listen to, I can’t fault the guy for being sincere, but unfortunately nothing really stood out as being amazing. As a result it means the whole thing has to be classified as a bit average. But I wouldn’t put the guy down.
And Wrily really is a silly name. Made worse by song titles “She’s The Wril Deal”, “I Wrilly Want To Be Yours” and “Wril Love”. Barf.
Presentation = 4/5 Content = Some lame bio but plenty of music on show. Music = 3/5 Friend Request = DENIED!
If you think you have heard Alx Gee’s songs before, it’s possibly because you’ve heard them blaring from the inside of a Fiat Punto as it’s tracksuit bedazzled driver sped past you. Yes, Mr Gee is a purveyor of dance music.
It would be fair to say that I have no interest in this. In any way shape or form. Unless I’m rat-arsed drunk in a club, dance music doesn’t speak to me. Not this kind anyway. I could mention the good stuff like Daft Punk, Faithless, Chemical Brothers etc but because they’re so good they transcend dance music and incorporate a little bit of everything. They’re more than just “put your hands in the air” cheesy house techno.
As a result of my feelings, I was never going to give this a fair shake. It sounds like something I used to make with the Music game on my Playstation 1.
There is also a weird thing I noticed (and no, I’m not talking about his name). In the “Friends” section of his profile he has a second profile of himself. Interested, I clicked to find that it’s the exact same profile in every way except he has two different songs rather than the three he has on the other page. What is the point of this?
Also, how does this dude have over 225,000 plays on each song? That’s insane for an unsigned artist. I mean, the guy has a desperate plea for a manager in his bio. How is he pulling this off? I’ve got to tip my hat to him for this at the very least.
There isn’t much to his page though. Three songs, no videos and his pictures are set to private (I had to google search for a picture to put in this article). Meh. Back to the loch with you Nessie.
Presentation = 3/5 Content = Shite all. Music = 2/5 Friend Request = DENIED!
This woman is a bit of a bombshell. There seems to be a trend with this column that every week I get at least one friend request from a musician that just stumps me. Poetic K is a head scratcher. First of all let me try and describe the music or at least categorize it.
Poetic is a good moniker to give herself as there is a major hint that Ms. K is some sort of modern beatnik punk poet. Most of her songs sound like poems being recited to an alt rock soundtrack. She never really sings and she doesn’t really shout. It’s a kind of Marilyn Monroe performance; if she hung out with some goths. I don’t think she could squeeze any more sex or cutesy tone into her voice if she got a crowbar and Tweetie Pie.
Now I’ve never believed there to be much influence from a producer in rock music. Hip-Hop, certainly, but not rock. However, if ever there was someone screaming out for the need of a producer it’s this lady. Or at the very least better sound equipment because whoever put this together leaves things very loose. Now I understand that she’s probably going for that freaky, free style but it just comes across as sloppy. Sound dips and raises in bizarre places, it’s so off that I refuse to believe it’s on purpose.
I think if this was my first week doing this, I would probably have torn Poetic K a new one but to be honest I think she honestly has to be put in perspective. While I don’t think I’ll ever be on board for this kind of artsy rock I have to give her kudos for at the very least being an original sound. I come by so many sound-a-likes and generic bands that to have someone who even gets my attention and makes me think is a bit of a winner.
Give her a listen. At worst, you’ll know what’s going on in Berlin.
Presentation = 1/5 Content = Messy lay out but I suppose there is more than enough here to keep you occupied. Music = 3/5 Friend Request = DISAPPEARED!
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– If you want to be in the firing line for one of Aaron’s reviews, send a friend request to www.myspace.com/aaronhbp and he will reload for next time.
ALBUQUERQUE — This sleepy town is getting rocked awake by a mad bomber in Deadly Impact. Thomas Armstrong (Boondock Saints‘s Sean Patrick Flanery) is a cop that is forced to shoot his wife in order to save 10 people that are being held hostage by The Lion (The Matrix‘s Joe Pantoliano). The ugliness of the moment cause Armstrong to quit the force and devote himself to booze. Eight years later The Lion reappears. The FBI wants Armstrong’s help in identifying him, but can he tangle with the diabolical madman who has promised to blow up the city?
Deadly Impact is an action rush with Pantoliano using the power of Bluetooth for evil. Here’s the trailer for the film:
The movie is out on DVD this week. I had a chance to swap email with Director Robert Kurtzman and Producer David S. Greathouse. The duo had previously made Buried Alive. Kurtzman is a special effects veteran having contributed to over a hunder movies including Predator, Hostel, Army of Darkness and Bubba Ho-tep. Greathouse is executive producer on Saint John of Las Vegas starring Steve Buscemi, Sarah SIlverman and Peter Dinklage.
Party Favors: What attracted you to the script for Deadly Impact?
Robert Kurtzman: It’s a well written script and Its an action/thriller which was something different and challenging for me. I love action films as much as I do horror. I’d worked with producer David Greathouse on several films prior including Buried Alive which I’d directed for him and we have a great working relationship which was also a big attraction for me. Dave’s a very smart producer and he always puts a great team together which as a director is very important. I know he has my back and I have his.
With your background in special effects, do you find it hard to read a script without immediately thinking how you’d devise a prop?
Robert Kurtzman: Yes… but it’s actually helpful when you’re trying to envision a sequence that maybe budget restrictive and you have to come up with alternatives in how you shoot or stage the action to accommodate the schedule. This film wasn’t a heavy creature FX film so in that sense I was free to concentrate on other aspects of the production.
Where did you first cross paths with Sean Patrick Flanery?
Robert Kurtzman: We actually met on this film. After reading the script he was the first actor that came to mind for the role of Tom Armstrong and luckily the studio agreed. I can’t imagine the film without him in it.
Do you get a certain buzz knowing that when you cast Joe Pantoliano, you get to figure out his hairstyle?
Robert Kurtzman: We did a bunch of rough sketches of the different character looks for the film and then designed the prosthetics and body suits accordingly. We were very lucky because Joey has his own lace wig collection from other films which we were able to utilize.
What do you think is key to create tension when actors are talking on the phone? Does Bluetooth free up an actor?
Robert Kurtzman: Building tension in the edit and camera movement. We had quite a bit of the back and forth with them on the phone and it was key to have things build and get more tense as Kaplow played his game with Tom. Bluetooth does free them up to be more animated, actors love doing things with their hands.
How does using the VIPER alter your approach to filmmaking visually? Do you have to modify the action or effects for the format?
Robert Kurtzman: I didn’t have to change my approach at all. It was just like shooting 35mm except I was able to shoot more coverage as I had no restriction on the amount of film I could shoot a day. Everything is captured to hard drives and you pretty much see what you’re getting on the monitors. The camera also has the ability to create presets for different lighting and color looks so we had selections for day and night shooting which we were able to punch up on the computer so scenes would carry the same look from one to another. The other thing that’s great about shooting digital is I don’t have to keep cutting and reload film when the actors are getting into a groove. You just let the camera roll and if someone fumbles a line or the camera move isn’t working you can just drop back to first position and pick it right up without having to cut.
Were there any explosions on the location?
Robert Kurtzman: Yes we had several explosions, two cars and the third story of a building.
How hard is it to juggle an active career in both special effects and directing features?
Robert Kurtzman: It’s not that tough because when I’m not directing I do effects work and when I’m direct a picture I supervise the effects in the planning stage and then let my crew take over on the day to day issues with fabricating and operating on the set.
Do you find your casting based on who you enjoyed being around on other sets?
Robert Kurtzman: Obviously you always try to surround yourself with people that you have a good working relationship with but it’s really about casting the right actor for the part. On this film almost all the actors were local New Mexico talent and only the two leads, Sean and Joey were brought in. I had never worked with any of them before.
Were you on the set of Predator when Jean Claude Van Damme was fired? Did you get a sense that he wasn’t going to be happy inside the suit?
Robert Kurtzman: No. I was hired as part of Stan Winston’s crew after all that went down and they decided to change the look of the monster. I worked in the studio but never went to set in Mexico.
Now the Party Favors chats with producer David S. Greathouse:
What made you bring Deadly Impact together?
David Greathouse: I had really wanted to make an action film with Robert for a while and I knew it would be a fun challenge to try to make with the resources we had.
With the Viper system, did you have post-production during production? Is it nice not to have to wait for dailies when on location?
David Greathouse: Yes, it’s always nice to be able to look at the footage before you leave a set to insure you have everything you need. Obviously, this eliminates the potential for costly re-shoots.
As a producer, what do you feel is your prime responsibility to the movie project?
David Greathouse: There are a lot of equally important responsibilities that change as the production moves from phase to phase. During development, the main thing is to get the money to make the film. During production it’s to make sure the money is spent wisely and insure the team’s creative vision is being recorded. During post, it’s to support the director and make sure he has the tools needed to make the film great. It really changes from minute to minute depending on the circumstances.
What is your favorite myth about producers?
David Greathouse: That we are all rich!
New Mexico seems to be attracting a lot of productions. What drew you to the state?
David Greathouse: Initially, the incentives. But, I’ve made a lot of films there now and I keep going back because of the crew that I am so fortunate to work with while in New Mexico. I’ve made good friends with some very talented people out there.
Did you have to avoid certain locations since they’d been used in Breaking Bad?
David Greathouse: No, we shot this film before Breaking Bad began production.
Is it nice to work with a director who knows how to work out an effect without it busting the budget? Or did Robert Kurtzman still want to push the budget?
David Greathouse: Robert and I have been good friends for a long time and we collaborate very well. He tells me what he needs and I try to get it for him. When it turns out that the budget can’t support the idea he has he knows it’s not me being cheap but that it’s just too expensive. He and I work together to find a suitable alternative. It’s a good partnership.
What was it like to make Teenage Caveman with Larry Clark (Kids and Bully)?
David Greathouse: At the time, I was a development executive for Stan Winston Productions. Teenage Caveman was one of ten projects we developed for the creature feature series for HBO. Of those ten scripts the studio chose the five that were to get made. Working on that project was…interesting.
Did you get to work directly with Samuel Z Arkoff on your early productions? If so, what essential lessons did you learn from him?
David Greathouse: Unfortunately, I didn’t have the opportunity to work with Sam.
GET THE CRAZY
I watch Pretty Wild to mock the three wannabe models and their dippy mother who used to be an underwear model. It’s Must Spite TV at the compound. In the middle of an episode, the mother starts quoting The Secret. I started howling at how this woman has latched onto the fad quasi-religion until it struck me that she’s a success story of the book. All her life she has imagined herself as a famewhore and now she’s there. She’s got a TV series on E! She’s got a camera crew that swear her moronic trio of young girls are famous. And I’m watching her. What I don’t get is what image she put on her mirror to make her wish to be a fame whore. According to The Secret infomercial, a kid put up a pic of a bike and wished for one until his mommy bought him that bike. In my day, we called that incessant whining. What did Pretty Wild mom worship for success? The best guess is a picture of the Kardashians – the ultimate family of famewhores. And it paid off since they’re E! neighbors. I’m going to go put a picture of The Secret book on my mirror in hopes that I find a copy discarded next to a dead possum carcass.
BOTTOMS UP
Those washed up celebrities on Sober House really need to chill out with a couple shots of Scotch. Can the producers quit referring to that one guy as the lead singer of Crazy Town. He’s only famous now for being a constant guest star on VH1’s Rehab shows.
THE SALLY JESSY TREATMENT
WHACK A MOVIE
What producer of Transformers has major plans to make a movie out of Chuck E. Cheese? You thought Stretch Armstrong was the rock bottom of Hollywood creativity, wait till Chuck E. Cheese: The Cinematic Slice hits the screen in the summer of 2012. Nic Cage wants the lead role bad. Rumor has it the script pages will taste about the same as the pizza.
BLU-RAY HEAVEN
Avatar Blu-ray + DVD combo arrives in time for your Earth Day celebrations. James Cameron has finally made an eco-thriller that entertains. Remember when Steven Seagal crash and burned with Fire Down Below? We’re taken to another world dubbed Pandora where the blue Na’vi battle fierce creatures to survive. A heartless corporation wants to mine the lush land for a rare element. Their big plot to take care of the natives involving fake Na’vi that are mentally controlled by marines. Things go wrong in the program when the tough military minds go native inside their blue avatar bodies. Can the military industrial complex overcome love? The coolest part of the film is how the CGI world looks like Roger Dean’s paintings done for Yes albums. It’s like the kinda fantasy landscapes dreamt up by a college sophomore getting wasted in his dorm room while listening to Rush’s Moving Pictures. Now that kid can get wasted while watching Avatar if they have an HDTV. If they only have a standard TV, they can still enjoy the otherworldly explosive romance with the DVD and hold onto the Blu-ray for when they go home to watch mom do their laundry.
The Blu-ray’s 1080p image is stunning on parents’ HDTV. The details come out of the floating jungle. You can hit freeze frame and have instant art on the wall. For those wanting to truly get lost in the screen, this not the 3-D version. No news when that will be released so you can watch it on the 3-D TV over at HH Gregg. This is a barebones edition. No commentary tracks or behind the scenes features that explain the creation of the Roger Dean influenced world. Word is that the mega-edition of Avatar will be coming in time for Christmas. But why wait to enjoy the action of blue people versus marine space helicopters? Here’s a little video sample to remind you why this was the biggest box office hit of all time.
DVD SHELF
Perry Mason Season 5, Volume 1 contains 15 more of the finest legal action. Raymond Burr plays the lawyer that never lets his clients down. He’s the man in the courtroom who never looks foolish. “The Case of the Malicious Mariner” has a First officer toss a million dollars worth of cargo into the sea to avoid capsizing. His captain is murdered before he can testify at the maritime court. Perry has to clear this guy of the dumping and the homicide. “The Case of the Crying Comedian” suspects Jackie Coogan (Uncle Fester) of evil! A comic returns to town to find his lost love. However she’s married even though the guy is a creep that’s had her tossed into the looney bin a few times. The bad husband ends up in the grave. Did the comic kill him with laughter? “The Case of the Unwelcome Bride” gives the teaming of DeForest Kelley (Star Trek‘s Dr. McCoy) and Alan Hale Jr (Gilligan’s Island‘s The Skipper. A dad feels his son’s wife has made him a loser. He’s not quite thrilled when she’s the main suspect in his son’s death. Can Perry bring them together? The series remains effective and thrilling with Perry making fools of DA Hamilton Burger and Lt. Tragg. There’s no bonus features. The nice thought is that the first half of the series is finally out on DVD.
I Love Lucy: The Movie is the bonus disc from I Love Lucy: The Complete Series. Now all the folks who bought the individual boxsets can quit contemplating put their stuff on eBay for the sake of a single disc. Is it worth it? Yes. “I Love Lucy: The Movie” had them string 3 episodes together for a theatrical feature. The cool part is the opening which has people arrive to watch the filming of the show. Thrill to the soundstage which brought so much hilarity. William Frawley gets to be himself as he waves to the audience. “Lucy Goes to Scotland” is a colorized episode that looks like they had broken out the Technicolor cameras on the set. Using color film shot behind the scenes that day, the hue artists get it right. The crazy redhead really does have red hair as she dreams of visiting the town. There are clips of the show winning the Emmy. Desi Arnaz takes time to point out that there needs to be awards for the writers at the Emmys. What a class act of a guy. It is nice to have this on the shelf so I no longer fight the impulse to buy the Complete Series.
Tales From The Darkside: The Third Season gives us more bumps in the night from executive producer George Romero (Night of the Living Dead). This was a syndicated series that aired in the mid-80s on Saturday night along with Friday 13th: The Series. Tales was a horror anthology with plenty of familiar faces to get spooked. “The Geezenstacks” gives us Larry Pine and a haunted dollhouse. “The Milkman Cometh” has Robert Forster and Seymour Cassel getting wishes fulfilled by the guy from the dairy. “My Ghostwriter – The Vampire” reminds us of when Jeff Conaway wasn’t a near vegetable on VH1 Rehab shows. “Everybody Needs a Little Love” is an early version of Lars and the Real Girl with Jerry Orbach (Dirty Dancing). There’s 22 episodes with enough queasy chills and jolts to keep you up past midnight. Let’s start the rumor that the fourth (and final season) will be out before Halloween.
Penn & Teller Bullshit: The Seventh Season is investigative journalism from the infamous magic act that aired on Showtime. The duo know how to do a cable news show since their special reports often feature nudity. The topics are conversation worthy. “Videogames” has them give a gun to a child who likes shooter games. Does he have the will to kill? “Orgasms” questions folks who claim they can make you rock it like a porn star. How much are people willing to pay to pop? “Apocalypse” debunks the whole 2012 end of the world business. Does this mean I’ll have to pay for my living room? “Organic Foods” was not sponsored by Whole Foods. “Lawns” delves into people who go nuts over their grass. What’s wrong with an astroturf front yard? Nine near-Freakonomically episodes are spread over 2 DVDs. Why aren’t these episodes rerun on Comedy Central after Colbert?
SWEDE ROCK
If you only can attend one rock festival this summer, let it be Sweden Rock Festival. This is the only place I know that dares to book the ultimate line up including Guns N’ Roses, Slayer, Danzig, Aldo Nova and Rick Springfield. Imagine how cool it would be to be partying backstage with Axl, Aldo, Danzig and Rick. The festival is from July 9-12 in Solvesborg. Hopefully that Icelandic volcano won’t kill the fun. Anvil is part of the show. Maybe they can make another film about them hanging with Aldo and Rick. Axl will just kick their ass for pointing a camera at him. You can get more info at www.swedenrock.com.
COMING SOON
James Cameron Plants a Tree in 3-D. Adjust your red and blue flames accordingly.
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…)
It’s slow and steady, but as a character piece about a broken down country star living on dive bar and bowling alley gigs who finds a shot at redemption both personally and professionally, Crazy Heart (Fox, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a tour de force for Jeff Bridges. I’ve always dug Bridges, and he certainly deserved the Oscar for this turn. Bonus materials include a featurette, deleted scenes, and alternate music cuts.
With the Freeloader Pico Solar Charger ($39.99), you’ll be hard pressed to get caught out without at least some ability to recharge your oh-so-important gadgets on the go, as the sun is your is all you need to build up a back-up, and the Freeloader can then be unloaded whenever you need it.
Stripped of its lush, immersive, big screen 3-D and viewed on a much smaller, decidedly 2-D home TV screen, Avatar (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) becomes what it always was – an overblown, awkward, cinematic equivalent, in blue, of purple prose sci-fi. Sometimes, films are really about the gimmick. Even though it’s in 2-D, though, the transfer is crystal clear, and you’d better enjoy it, because there’s absolutely no bonus features whatsoever in this release, so you can be sure a deluxe special edition will be available for the holidays.
For all of the waiting and hoping, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of The Lovely Bones (Paramount, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$48.99 SRP) turns out to be a mostly forgettable affair that has more in common with the turgid What Dreams May Come than I would have liked. In brief, the story is about a murdered 14-year-old girl caught in a limbo between life and death, who must help her family catch her killer and protect her family before she can move on. The really interesting thing about the 2-disc set, though, is the hours of diary segments included…Though it should come as no surprise, considering Jackson’s massive Rings and Kong sets.
I’m become a bit tired of him as an actor, but it’s in rewatching a film like The Basketball Diaries (Palm, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) that I’m reminded just what a powerful actor the young Leonardo DiCaprio was. This new edition is lacking in any bonus features, but the picture and sound are certainly the best they’ve been.
Similar to their recent attempt to present a younger, hipper version of Robin Hood to simpletons with a short attention span, the BBC tackled the legend of Merlin (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) by giving us a young wizard newly arrived in Camelot, still learning his way, who finds himself at odds with the young heir to the kingdom, a chap named Arthur. Did you see that coming? The 5-disc first season set contains all 13 episodes, plus audio commentaries, featurettes, video diaries, and a gallery.
Slowly but surely, we’re catching up on the releases of Gordon Ramsay’s excellent cooking show, The F Word (BFS, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The fourth series brings us a whole new crop of celebrity guests, celebrity cook-offs, remote ingredient locales, and much more. The 4-disc set contains all 12 episodes.
Journey back to the crazy days of local television genre hosts – from kiddie to horror programming – via the documentary Every Other Day Is Halloween (Brink DVD, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP), which examines the life of TV personality Dick Dyszel, whose host creations still inspire those who watched him decades ago. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, extended/deleted scenes, the AFI world premiere, and even a limited edition Channel 20 Club Car reproduction.
As both Dallas and Dynasty wind down their DVD releases, it was only a matter of time before we got Falcon Crest (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 4-disc set contains all 18 first season episodes of northern California winery-based drama.
I was never a fan of the show, but it had enough of a fan base to last quite a few seasons, and those fans are surely the target audience of The Drawn Together Movie: The Movie (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$29.99 SRP), which takes the animated raunch of the television version and cranks it up to unrated territory. Bonus materials include featurettes, confessionals, and more.
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…
Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!
In conjunction with Scholastic Books, we’re giving one (1) grand prize winner a HARRY POTTER PAPERBACK BOX SET and a $50 VISA Cash Card. One (1) runner-up will win a HARRY POTTER PAPERBACK BOX SET.
In conjunction with Scholastic Books, we’re giving one (1) grand prize winner a HARRY POTTER PAPERBACK BOX SET and a $50 VISA Cash Card. One (1) runner-up will win a HARRY POTTER PAPERBACK BOX SET.
Read the fastest selling book of all time and experience the adventure from the beginning!. Enter to win the complete Harry Potter box set in paperback! And don’t forget to check out Scholastic’s national sweepstakes. They are giving away 4 family trips to Universal Orlando Resort’s The Wizarding World of Harry Potter, which opens June 18th! You can enter the national sweepstakes HERE.
Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 12th.
CLOSED! THANKS FOR ENTERING!
Official Rules
No member of FRED 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, May 12th.
The winner must allow 4-6 weeks after notification of win to receive the product.
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.
KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #144: Guess Who Two – Ken & Dana return to resolve last week’s cliffhanger, which really wasn’t much of a cliffhanger, and is probably something that you’ve resolved anyway. If you even cared to. Still, here we are.
[CONTENT WARNING]:This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
What happens when two young men let their love of movies, comic books, and all things “geek” take over their lives? They run away from their families, bringing only the most essential DVDs and comics to their secret, highly fortified underground bunker in sunny Southern California, where they start recording podcasts that will change the world.
Are they heroes?
No.
Are they geniuses?
Far from it.
Are they the future of this planet?
I sure hope not.
Simply put… Matt Cohen and Jesse Rivers are “Bagged and Boarded”.
BAGGED & BOARDED #53: Mona Lisa Two: Da Vinci’s Revenge – In which Matt and Jesse discuss the concept of art in videogames, chat about famous screenwriters, and generally shout about what they think of the upcoming slate of Superhero films. Warning: The podcast contains hazardous materials that may cause euphoria (and leakage).
[CONTENT WARNING]:This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Welcome to Hands Down, FRED’s own look into the world of the folks that frequent this sordid world of geekery. Follow Aaron, Brian and Colin (and a menagerie on the way) as they traverse the light fantastic or some such nonsense… What? It’s an online fortnightly comic strip, what kind of description did you expect?
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…)
Often overlooked in favor of the The Little Mermaid, I’d say that the Disney animation renaissance began with the still-fun Great Mouse Detective (Disney, Rated G, DVD-$19.98 SRP), which gets a special edition but sadly no Blu-Ray. Still, if you’ve never seen this Victorian adventure of Basil of Baker Street, do so. Bonus features include a making-of featurette and a sing-along.
I don’t know about you, but every once In awhile I remember to fear whatever creepy crawly organisms might be living in the bristles of my toothbrush. Or at least I used to fear them, before I got the Bacteria Assassin Ninja Toothbrush Sanitizer ($36.99), which is a nifty little sinktop device (made to look like a ninja) which uses UV light to kill all of those microscopic nasties. All you do is put the head of your toothbrush in, and then little it go to work.
It’s a button-pusher to be sure – as all Richard Curtis films are – but I’ve got admit, I did like his love letter to the illegal, ship-based rock broadcasters of late-60’s Britain in Pirate Radio (Universal, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$36.98 SRP). The plot is really secondary to the performances of the stellar cast – including Bill Nighy, Rys Ifans, Nick Frost, Kenneth Branagh, Chris O’Dowd, and Phillip Seymour Hoffman – and the soundtrack. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, deleted scenes, and featurettes.
I’m not a terribly big fan of Ron Howard as a filmmaker, but the story of Apollo 13 (Universal, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$26.98 SRP) is still incredibly compelling – not the least of which because I’m a sucker for the space program. The new Blu-Ray edition is a worthy upgrade, as the visuals are still incredible for the time that the film was made, in the still formative days of CGI when practical effects still had a firm place in filmmaking. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, and behind-the-scenes & historical featurettes.
They shine with a pale, pale light compared to the classic MGM short subjects, but if your kids absolutely have to have more cat & mouse adventures, then there’s Tom & Jerry Tales: The Complete First Season (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP). The 2-disc set contains all 13 episodes.
Coming out of the theater with my 5-year-old nephew, I could tell that How To Train Your Dragon (available for PS3-$49.99 SRP, XBOX-$49.99 SRP, Wii-$49.99 SRP, & DS-$29.99 SRP), really sparked his imagination in the sort of a way that you know he could have walked right back in and seen it again. Well, lucky for my sanity, the video game tie-ins for the film are pretty darn fun across the board, combining both a story adventure and an instant gratification arcade ability to just control a pair of dragons waling on each other. As is usual with these releases, it’s available on every platform, and there no one that’s any more encouraged over the other (and even the DS edition is a hoot). Get at least one platform and have a blast.
Put memories of Platinum Dunes blah remake out of your head with the high-definition arrival of the original Nightmare On Elm Street (New Line, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), as you watch Freddy Krueger carve up his victims in sparkling detail. Bonus materials include a pair of commentaries, alternate endings, a trio of featurettes, alternate takes, and behind-the-scenes vignettes.
Since selling off The Muppets, the Jim Henson Company has been chopping and packaging the material they have left for DVD releases. The Song Of The Cloud Forest (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$12.98 SRP) was originally featured in the short-lived Jim Henson Hour, but is combined here with episodes of Fraggle Rock and Animal Show with Stinky and Jake. Speaking of the latter, there’s also the 5-episode collection Animal Show with Stinky and Jake: Lions, Tigers & Bears (Lionsgate, Not Rated, DVD-$12.98 SRP).
In one of the slowest turnarounds ever, you can now pick up the 2-disc special edition release of The Official Inaugural Celebration (HBO, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), containing the complete inauguration of President Obama, plus the concert celebration that followed.
I’m so happy to live in a world where a documentary has been made that looks at the fascinating – and odd – world of ventriloquism, which is called “venting” by its practitioners. I’m No Dummy (Salient Media, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP) looks at a trio of ventriloquists – Jay Johnson, Jeff Dunham, and Lynn Trefzger – and the history of the form.
Let your impressionable children plunk themselves down in front of the 2-disc Bakugan Battle Brawlers: Chapter 1 (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$19.98 SRP), featuring another 13 episodes of flashy brawling action.
Every thing you can imagine hits the fan when J.R. Ewing reaches the 13th season of Dallas (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) and Ewing Oil is brought to the brink of destruction. Just another day in Texas, right? The 3-disc set contains all 27 episodes, which sadly continue to be released on those damned flipper discs. Come on, Warners!
Let your kids go on a bilingual jaunt around the world with Dora The Explorer: Explore The Earth! (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP). The single-disc release contains 4 episodes, plus a pair of Moose & Zee shorts.
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…
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.
KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #143: Guess Who – Ken & Dana return with a not-terribly-stirring game of Twitter Guess Who, as Dana latches on and refuses to let go of something that probably isn’t nearly as interesting to anyone else, including Ken.
[CONTENT WARNING]:This podcast may contain some foul language and horribly off-color jokes. Don’t say we didn’t warn you.
Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the FRED…
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
CABIN FEVER #92: The Green Fairy – Brian and Aaron discuss absinthe and its effects. Then, after diving into listener mail, they get to bring you tales of head wounds, head wounds, and head games. Marvel as they actually talk from the same room.
[CONTENT WARNING]:Explicit contents! We say every naughty word you can think of. You have been warned!
Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at FRED. Every week, we’ll present a new clutch of DVDs, books, and other cool stuff you can take a shot at winning. All you have to do is click on the graphics below to be taken to their respective contest pages. And good luck!
In conjunction with A&E Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of STEVEN SEAGAL: LAWMAN on DVD.
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
It’s slow and steady, but as a character piece about a broken down country star living on dive bar and bowling alley gigs who finds a shot at redemption both personally and professionally, 
With the 
Stripped of its lush, immersive, big screen 3-D and viewed on a much smaller, decidedly 2-D home TV screen, 
For all of the waiting and hoping, Peter Jackson’s adaptation of 
I’m become a bit tired of him as an actor, but it’s in rewatching a film like 
Similar to their recent attempt to present a younger, hipper version of Robin Hood to simpletons with a short attention span, the BBC tackled the legend of 
Slowly but surely, we’re catching up on the releases of Gordon Ramsay’s excellent cooking show, 
Journey back to the crazy days of local television genre hosts – from kiddie to horror programming – via the documentary 
As both Dallas and Dynasty wind down their DVD releases, it was only a matter of time before we got 
I was never a fan of the show, but it had enough of a fan base to last quite a few seasons, and those fans are surely the target audience of 
I’m Ken Plume, and soon you’ll be listening to “A Bit Of A Chat” with me, Ken Plume.
Often overlooked in favor of the The Little Mermaid, I’d say that the Disney animation renaissance began with the still-fun 
I don’t know about you, but every once In awhile I remember to fear whatever creepy crawly organisms might be living in the bristles of my toothbrush. Or at least I used to fear them, before I got the 
It’s a button-pusher to be sure – as all Richard Curtis films are – but I’ve got admit, I did like his love letter to the illegal, ship-based rock broadcasters of late-60’s Britain in 
I’m not a terribly big fan of Ron Howard as a filmmaker, but the story of 
They shine with a pale, pale light compared to the classic MGM short subjects, but if your kids absolutely have to have more cat & mouse adventures, then there’s 
Coming out of the theater with my 5-year-old nephew, I could tell that How To Train Your Dragon (available for 
Put memories of Platinum Dunes blah remake out of your head with the high-definition arrival of the original 
Since selling off The Muppets, the Jim Henson Company has been chopping and packaging the material they have left for DVD releases. 
In one of the slowest turnarounds ever, you can now pick up the 2-disc special edition release of 
I’m so happy to live in a world where a documentary has been made that looks at the fascinating – and odd – world of ventriloquism, which is called “venting” by its practitioners. 
Let your impressionable children plunk themselves down in front of the 2-disc 
Every thing you can imagine hits the fan when J.R. Ewing reaches the 13th season of 
Let your kids go on a bilingual jaunt around the world with 
Oh no! Just when you thought it was safe to hang out at the FRED…
