Author: UncaScroogeMcD

  • Win GRANDPA ELLIOTT: SUGAR SWEET on CD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Playing For Change Records, we’re giving away a copy of GRANDPA ELLIOTT: SUGAR SWEET.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 5th.

    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 5th.

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

  • Win I’M NO DUMMY on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Salient Media, we’re giving away three (3) copies of I’M NO DUMMY on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 5th.

    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 5th.

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

  • Win EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with BrinkDVD, we’re giving away two (2) copies of EVERY OTHER DAY IS HALLOWEEN on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 5th.

    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 5th.

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

  • Win STEVEN SEAGAL: LAWMAN on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with A&E Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of STEVEN SEAGAL: LAWMAN on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, May 5th.

    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 5th.

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

  • FREDagator: 2010-04-14

    fredagator.png

    lucyline.gif

    Conan’s soundcheck take on Radiohead’s “Creep”…

    Sometimes saving the princess is not the right thing to do…

  • A Bit Of A Chat with Ken Plume & Rob Delaney

    bitofachat-header.png

    lucyline.gif

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

    In this episode, Ken has a bit of a chat with writer/comedian Rob Delaney

    Hope you enjoy…

    Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & Rob Delaney“:

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

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    ##

    patreon-fred.png

    Drop Ken a line HERE.

    ##

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

    lucyline.gif

  • FREDagator: 2010-04-12

    fredagator.png

    lucyline.gif

    Siskel & Ebert Bloopers…

    Carl Sagan and The Pale Blue Dot…

    We Are Here: The Pale Blue Dot from dmahr on Vimeo.

  • Musical MySpace Tour #8

    myspacemusic.png

    I’m not going to mess around this week. I have no soapbox to stand on or issue I feel the need to rant about. Instead, I’m just going to nonchalantly dismiss some musicians in a self serving manner. Who needs therapy when you have a column on FRED?

    Once again, all bands reviewed are done so solely on the basis that they tried to add me as a friend on MySpace.
    The fools.
    ————————————————————————
    myspace-mtmM T M
    www.myspace.com/mexicantimemachine

    The Mexican Time Machine look like 3 homeless dudes. There is a possibility that they really are 3 homeless dudes and this is some sort of community outreach program: getting hobos to play music in order to relieve their smelly blues. The thing is, they’re the best homeless guy band I’ve ever heard. I just wish they’d wash.

    I honestly don’t know what I expected to hear when I clicked play. The name was weird. They looked weird. I expected something weird. I got something great. I’ve decided I’m going to give you a play-by-play of the setlist.

    The first few songs are live recordings and are pretty damn clear compared to some of the live crap I’ve heard on here before. In The City-Brown Cow took me by surprise as it goes from being a nice old fashioned bluesy kind of feel to some crazy metal highs. Car Chase does what it says on the tin, it’s a great instrumental soundtrack to an imaginary drag race (I’m half tempted to dub it over the Grease end-of-movie race to see if it fits).

    The next two tracks take me completely into Presidents Of The United States Of America territory. Crystal is instantly catchy and fun. 2 In The Oven ,while sticking out like a sore thumb as being the biggest sound departure, has the exact same effect. Honestly, listen. I dare you not to tap your foot and hum it for the rest of the day. I love dirty beats and this has a filthy one. I’m talking Jenna Haze filthy.

    We’re then given another movie soundtrack style instrumental in Waltz and Valley. It’s funny how a song with no words can give you such a clear picture in your head. It does really show off the guitar playing, which is very impressive.

    Then we get the demo version of Crystal again, which is slightly different as it’s stripped down to almost only vocals.

    So that’s it. I liked it. I had fun. We shared some laughs. Had a few beers. Hugged a little towards the end. It was emotional. I went back to my house and they went back to their cardboard boxes in the alley. Who could ask for more?

    Presentation = 0/5
    Content = Drab looking page but enough songs and some videos with bad sound.
    Music = 4/5
    Friend Request = ACCEPTED!

    ————————————————————————–
    myspace-edenEDEN
    www.myspace.com/edenofficial

    Eden are the duo of Ian Henderson and Mark Power. They plan on burning your face with their neon electro-pop straight out of the 80s via a fucked up Delorian. If you like synthesizers or gay bars you’ll absolutely love Eden. My problem is that I’m not excited by either.

    Sure, I love my 80s pop but the Pet Shop Boys didn’t really do it for me and Erasure were fun for the campness but where are they now? The thing about Eden is they’re slightly too serious about their euro-dance shenanigans for my liking. There is nothing wrong with taking your music seriously and this is obviously a genre they hold dear to their hearts as it is clearly a great example of it. But I don’t take the genre seriously myself so without a tongue in any cheek here; I just don’t care.

    I’ve got to hand it to them though, they have the aesthetic down. The page looks exactly how you would want a band like this to look. The music is solid too with a nice hook to most songs. If I Was A Pet Shop Boy is still stuck in my head a week later. I’d be lying if I said the vocals didn’t annoy me though. They’re weak, not out of tune but just powerless. If Eden had someone with a big set of pipes behind them, I think this might have made a bit more sense. Or at least had that impact weapon available, which could make things interesting.

    Again, these guys seem to love what they do and they’re a good example of it. I would just rather not listen to it myself. They’re not good enough to be as po-faced as they are and they’re not camp enough to make it fun. Which is a shame.

    Presentation = 4/5
    Content = Enough songs but no videos.
    Music = 3/5
    Friend Request = DENIED!

    ————————————————————————
    myspace-junkiesJUNKIES SWEET TOOTH
    www.myspace.com/junkiessweettooth

    What’s in a name? When it comes to bands, not a hell of a lot. The Beatles would have been just as awesome if their name was The Petunias. On the flip side, no kind of amazing name would cover the fact that The Script are horse manure. In the end, it’s the music that talks.

    I have to say though, the title Junkies Sweet Tooth for a band does conjure images. I expected some sort of punk or death metal band. It’s on the wrong side of pretentious.

    To their credit, the music is better than the name. It actually doesn’t have much of a connection to it. It offers this strange juxtaposition though because at the top of the page is a massive logo which is even worse. A photoshopped image of a guy hanging his head in the middle of a grimy alley. The band are obviously trying to convey an image, an attitude or raison d’être. But they’re fooling themselves in their attempt to fool us.

    The music is lively, toe-tapping, bluesy kind of rock. There are solid, catchy guitar riffs and toe tapping rhythm. The singer has a good tone to his voice even if the lyrics are awkward and pedestrian. It’s not bad, I enjoyed listening to it.

    But I’m left with that question. Why are they trying to be what they’re not? The only connection I saw was in their self titled song. And while this is a clunky story telling ramble it still comes across more preachy than tough.

    It’s all a bit of a conundrum. I’m mostly nitpicking but that’s my job. Besides, they withdrew their friend request before this article was put up. You don’t reject me, I reject you!

    Presentation = 3/5
    Content = A couple of songs.
    Music = 3/5
    Friend Request = DISAPPEARED!

    ————————————————————————–
    myspace-selbySELBY GREEN
    www.myspace.com/selbygreen

    “The best up and coming rock’n’roll band in Yorkshire”. I laughed and laughed and then I laughed some more. It’s not that their claim is wrong, they could well indeed be the best up and coming rock’n’roll band in Yorkshire. I’m not going to tell them they’re wrong. It’s the need to clarify exactly what they mean that made me chuckle. There is so much bravado and then so little all in the same sentence. I am also the greatest MySpace music reviewer on the whole internet who is typing this on a train. That’s how great I am. No one else on a train, typing a music review of bands from MySpace, is better than me.

    When it gets time to actually listen to the music (as I wipe away my tears) I’m pleasantly surprised. They’re not bad. Nothing revolutionary but definitely listenable. The lead singer does sound slightly Americanized (which is a pet peeve of mine) but every now and then you’ll get a word or two with the Yorkshire twang. The sound is pretty clean if slightly generic but it doesn’t grate and I think I could sit through a set of theirs at a show without a complaint.

    The key word is “think” though, as they only have two songs available to play on their profile. It always irks me a little that a band can create a Twitter page but can’t put more than two songs up on a MySpace page. You’re a band, I don’t want to read about what you’re doing in 140 characters or less, I want to hear your music.

    Because of this stumbling block it’s hard to rate the music of Selby Green. It’s ok, I guess, but I don’t think I know enough to care.

    Presentation = 3/5
    Content = Fuck all.
    Music = 3/5
    Friend Request = DENIED!

    If you’d like to make Aaron’s life even more boring than it is by inflicting your music upon him, send him a friend request at www.myspace.com/aaronhbp. The next time he has a free moment he’ll curse your name as he includes you in this column.

  • A Bit Of A Chat with Ken Plume & James Urbaniak 2

    bitofachat-header.png

    lucyline.gif

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

    In this episode, I have another chat with the actor behind THE VENTURE BROS’ own Dr. Thaddeus “Rusty” Venture and AMERICAN SPLENDOR’s Robert Crumb, who’s also a bit of a net bon vivant/commentator, James Urbaniak

    Hope you enjoy…

    Download “A Bit of a Chat with Ken Plume & James Urbaniak 2“:

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/bitofachat/bit_of_a_chat-james_urbaniak_2.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    ##

    patreon-fred.png

    Drop Ken a line HERE.

    ##

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

    lucyline.gif

  • Cabin Fever 91: Riding In Cabins With Leftover Fever

    cabinfeverheader.png

    cabin.jpgOh 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

    linesm.gif

    CABIN FEVER #91: Riding In Cabins With Leftover Fever – This week it’s Aaron’s turn to sit one out due to internet retardation. Hosting duties fall to the Rev. pHitzy pHitzpatrick, and he is joined by his favourite cabin boys – Instant Leftovers’ Colin, and Mike & Kasey from Riding in Cars With Boys. They discuss the culinary delights of KFC, paedophile ‘staches, and the greatest unfinished movie of all time.

    For those playing at home, here is a YouTube link… You’ll know when you need to look at it.

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

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #91 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/cabinfever/cabin_fever_91.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

    ##

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 4/9/10: Party Hardy

    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 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…)

    I had no expectations and little knowledge of the first season of Party Down (Anchor Bay, Not Rated, DVD-$29.97 SRP) going in other than it being produced by Paul Rudd and co-starring The State’s Ken Marino as well as the great Jane Lynch. Well, turns out it’s a wonderfully dry single-camera sitcom about a group of LA caterers whose minds are on the non-starter careers as actors and writers. Just watch the set and enjoy. Bonus materials include audio commentaries, featurettes, outtakes, and a gag reel.

    thinkgeek-01.jpg

    Do you have far, far too many items requiring a USB port and far, far too few of them to accommodate all of the gadgets and gizmos you’ve accumulated? Well, the fine folks over at Thinkgeek have heard you crying in the night (to be honest, we all did) and have brought you the mighty USB Super 16 Port Hub ($159.99). As the name clearly indicates, it’s 16 fully-powered USB 2.0 ports. Not only that, it also features a switcher which allows you to change which computer can access the ports. Cool, right? Right.

    thinkgeek-02.jpg

    I’ve spoken many, many times in the past about the wonderful work being done by the fine folks at Twomorrows – those perfect purveyors of pure comics appreciation fun. Well, they continue their relentless drive to release must-have books, and I’ll start with the latest editions of their Modern Masters series of artist spotlights – this time featuring Mark Buckingham & Guy Davis (Twomorrows, $15.95 each). There’s also an in-depth appreciation of artist Sal Buscema titled Sal Buscema: Comics’ Fast & Furious Artist (Twomorrows, $26.95). Finally, there’s a comprehensive look at the live action adventures of everyone’s favorite comics characters in Age Of TV Heroes (Twomorrows, $39.95). Get them all.

    blankguide.gif

    If you’ve ever been a fan of Love & Rockets, you must, with all due haste, pick up a copy of The Art Of Jaime Hernandez (Abrams ComicArts, $40.00 SRP), which delves into the history and archives of the notoriously private artist, providing a wealth of artwork and insight.

    blankguide.gif

    If you’d like a textbook example on how to take a cheesily fun flick and turn it into a plodding, pointless remake, look no further than Wolfgang Petersen’s Poseidon (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.98 SRP), which took Irwin Allen’s Poseidon Adventure and made it oh-so-dull. Bonus materials include a trio of behind-the-scenes featurettes and the History Channel documentary Rogue Waves.

    blankguide.gif

    For those impatient for Lord Of The Rings in high definition who aren’t willing to wait to get the extended cuts in a few year’s time, the Lord Of The Rings: The Motion Picture Trilogy (New Line, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$99.98 SRP) contains all three theatrical cuts, with a port of the documentaries originally featured on the standard DVD theatrical edition releases (mainly the TV specials, not the uber-deluxe making-ofs found on the extended sets. The picture and sound are ace, so if you simply can’t wait, or you’re a completionist, by all means get it.

    blankguide.gif

    Though I’m sure he was trying his best to make a faithful, impressive adaptation of J.R.R. Tolkien’s massive epic, Ralph Bakshi’s animated Lord Of The Rings (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP) is just a boring, ugly mess, marred by poor voice-acting, roto-scoped animation, and a script that forgets its supposed to keep the audience’s attention. This new high-def edition contains an in-depth interview with Bakshi about his vision for the film.

    blankguide.gif

    One of the standouts of Playing For Change’s beautiful music documentary Peace Through Music was New Orleans own Grandpa Elliott, who gets an equally beautiful debut album in the form of Sugar Sweet (Playing For Change Records, $12.98 SRP). Just go get it.

    blankguide.gif

    Lionsgate has jumped into the catalogue Blu-Ray release pool with a trio of new-to-high-def discs, including David Caruso in Jade (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), the goofy fun monster flick The Relic (Lionsgate, Rated R, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP), and John Milius’s Flight Of The Intruder (Lionsgate, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$19.99 SRP).

    blankguide.gif

    Warners unleashes another pair of catalogue titles to their Warner Archive Collection sure to satisfy someone’s cult cinema desire – one good and one not-so-good. The not-so-good is the Shaquille O’Neal superhero flick Steel (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$19.95). The good is Irwin Allen’s production of The Amazing Captain Nemo (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$19.95), Robert Bloch’s tale of a cryogenically frozen Nemo (Jose Ferrer) revived after 100 years to hunt down a mad scientist (Burgess Meredith) threatening modern-day humanity.

    blankguide.gif

    Spend some time with the likes of Peter Cushing in the Icons Of Suspense Collection: Hammer Films (Sony, Not Rated, DVD-$23.99 SRP), which contains 6 of the legendary studio’s chillers. The flicks includes are Stop Me Before I Kill!, Maniac, Cash On Demand, Never Take Candy From A Stranger, The Snorkel, & These Are The Damned.

    blankguide.gif

    True story – as a kid, I used to think Simon & Simon (Shout Factory, Not Rated, DVD-$49.97 SRP) were actually Simon & Garfunkel. It was years before I could disassociate the two… And Gerald McRaney occasionally sings “Bright Eyes” in my mind. The 4th season set contains all 22 episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    It’s pure 80’s sci-fi schmaltz, but the performances by the geriatric cast is what makes Cocoon (Fox, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$24.99 SRP) a flick worth watching at least once. Certainly not for Steve Guttenberg. The new high-def edition features a commentary from Ron Howard, a quintet of featurettes, TV spots, and trailers.

    blankguide.gif

    If you didn’t have the cash to pick up the complete series set and are instead going at it a season at a time, then you’ll probably want to pick up the complete second season of Ally McBeal (Fox, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP). The 6-disc set contains all 23 episodes, all of which contain the original music.

    blankguide.gif

    Since every Stephen King story must eventually be adapted into a film, it was only a matter of time before they got to the short story Dolan’s Cadillac (NEM, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP), about an even-keeled school teacher (Wes Bentley) that becomes a cold-blooded vengeance machine when a mobster (Christian Slater) kills his wife. Bonus materials include behind-the-scenes footage.

    blankguide.gif

    A series featuring a female private detective who finds an unlikely partner in a 450-year-old undead vampire, that complicates not only her professional life, but also her long-time relationship with her detective ex-partner sounds like a slam-dunk in these vampire obsessed times, right? Well, sadly for Blood Ties (Eagle Rock, Not Rated, DVD-$39.97 SRP), it came out in 2007, before the craze hit. You can watch the entire series via this 7-disc box set , which also features a behind-the-scenes documentary.

    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

    ##

  • FREDagator: 2010-04-08

    lucyline.gif

    A little Flip camera test featuring Tim Monster lip-syncing Tim Minchin’s “Canvas Bags”…

  • Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #142: iFail

    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 #142: iFail – Ken & Dana return with a revelation from one of them that completely overwhelms any other discussion that might have occurred. And it doesn’t occur because they talk about that revelation. The whole time.

    [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 #142 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/snydecast/ken_p_d_snyde_cast-142.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

    ##

  • Contest Round-Up: 2010-04-07

    contestheader.jpg

    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 Walt Disney Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE on DVD.

    In conjunction with Summit Home Video, we’re giving away a copy of ASTRO BOY on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SHARPE’S PERIL on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SHARPE’S CHALLENGE on DVD.

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of THE 39 STEPS on DVD.

    In conjunction with Titan Books, we’re giving away five (5) copies of KICK ASS: CREATING THE COMIC, MAKING THE MOVIE.

    In conjunction with Spin Master Toys, we’re giving away HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Action Figures. We’re giving away one (1) of each of the following: GRONCKLE, GOBBER, FISHLEGS, NIGHTFURY, SNOTLOUT, HICCUP, TERRIBLE TERROR, and DEADLY NADDER.

  • Win a HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Action Figure!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Spin Master Toys, we’re giving away HOW TO TRAIN YOUR DRAGON Action Figures. We’re giving away one (1) of each of the following: GRONCKLE, GOBBER, FISHLEGS, NIGHTFURY, SNOTLOUT, HICCUP, TERRIBLE TERROR, and DEADLY NADDER.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win KICK ASS: CREATING THE COMIC, MAKING THE MOVIE!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Titan Books, we’re giving away five (5) copies of KICK ASS: CREATING THE COMIC, MAKING THE MOVIE.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win THE 39 STEPS on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of THE 39 STEPS on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win SHARPE’S CHALLENGE on Blu-Ray!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SHARPE’S CHALLENGE on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win SHARPE’S PERIL on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with BBC Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of SHARPE’S PERIL on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win ASTRO BOY on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Summit Home Video, we’re giving away a copy of ASTRO BOY on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Win THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Walt Disney Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of THE GREAT MOUSE DETECTIVE on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, April 28th.

    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, April 28th.

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

  • Bagged & Boarded 52: Something About CyberDyne

    baggedboardedheader.jpg

    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”.

    linesm.gif

    BAGGED & BOARDED #52: Something About CyberDyne – In which Matt and Jesse take a look at the history of Easter and facial hair trends, and get lost in a role-playing exercise involving a southerner, an alien, and an eccentric billionaire. Spring has finally sprung… Dig it.

    [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 #52 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/baggedboarded/bagged_boarded-52.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

    Got something to say? E-mail Matt & Jesse at the B & B mailbag.

    line.gif

    CLICK HERE FOR THE BAGGED & BOARDED ARCHIVES

    line.gif

    ##

  • FREDagator: 2010-04-06

    fredagator.png

    lucyline.gif

    For those who missed it, Craig Ferguson & Geoff Peterson meet the Bonzo Dog Doo Dah Band…

    [ad#contestbox]

  • Hands Down #3

    handsdownheader.png

    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?

    lucyline.gif

    handsdown-03

    VISIT THE HANDS DOWN ARCHIVES

    Follow Hands Down on Twitter

    Written by Aaron Poole. Art by John Merker. Copyright 2010.

  • Weekend Shopping Guide 4/2/10: How To Train Your Astro Boy

    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 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…)

    Jerry Seinfeld cites it as the primary influence for his own show, and anyone who views The Abbott and Costello Show (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$59.98 SRP) will clearly see the precedent it established for a comedy set in New York City and almost entirely about unique characters and everyday events, rather than your typical sitcom fare. It was also anchored by an amazing comedy duo who managed to reinvent themselves for the small screen without falling into the trap of other comedians making the transition, who seemed to believe they were back on a vaudeville stage rather than pioneers on a brand new medium. I can’t recommend this 9-disc complete series set comprising the 2-season run of the show highly enough, which also feature Lou Costello’s rare home movies, interviews with the duo’s children, the 1978 TV special “Hey Abbott!”, the complete “Who’s On First?” routine, and the Abbott & Costello short film 10,000 Kids and a Cop.

    thinkgeek-01.jpg

    You know, sometimes work is dragging your spirits down, you’re sitting at your desk tired and dejected, and you know there’s only one thing that could possibly lift your spirits – Drumming. And with the USB Drum Kit ($29.99), you can drum away at your desk, then quickly stash the drum pad away when you have to go back to being, you know, productive.

    thinkgeek-02.jpg

    It’s got its flaws, but I did enjoy Guy Ritchie’s amped up but still faithful take on Sherlock Holmes (Warner Bros., Rate dPG-13, Blu-Ray/DVD-$35.99 SRP), starring Robert Downey Jr. as the master detective and Jude Law as his faithful sleuthing companion, Dr. Watson. The plot is almost besides the point, as it’s a hit-the-ground running Victorian buddy movie with plenty of action and detective work. As far as bonus materials go, you get a behind-the-scenes featurette.

    blankguide.gif

    Granted, there’s something inherently underwhelming about watching footage intended for IMAX presentation on a home theater setup, but there’s no denying that there’s some beautiful footage to be found in the self-explanatorily titled IMAX: Under The Sea (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$27.98 SRP). Bonus materials are limited to a behind-the-scenes featurette. For a better HD view, a Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available.

    blankguide.gif

    I’m not going to claim it’s a good film – or even that it’s not mostly boring – but yes, the original Clash Of The Titans (Warner Bros., Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$34.99 SRP) is a guilty pleasure for the odd sequence here and there, be it Medusa, the Kraken, or that mechanical owl, Bubo. Full remastered and presented in high definition, the new special edition adds an interview with Ray Harryhausen and a monster gallery.

    blankguide.gif

    It’s not the next season set, but iCarly fans can spin a collection of two TV movies and a pair of episodes contained in iCarly: iFight Shelby Marx (Nickelodeon, Not rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP), one of which is the titular Shelby Marx showdown starring Victoria Justice. Bonus features include behind-the-scenes featurettes and the pilot episode of Big Time Rush.

    blankguide.gif

    The 5th season of Deadliest Catch (Image, Not Rated, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is the last full season to feature the Captain Phil Harris, who passed away this past February as filming on the new season was ongoing. Even 5 seasons in, the show is still compelling viewing, and a continual reminder that I could never imagine myself doing anything quite as crazy dangerous. The 5-disc set contains all 16 episodes, plus 5 additional episodes and more.

    blankguide.gif

    I was a fan of his work on Newsradio, but I’ve never really gotten into Joe Rogan’s stand-up comedy. For those who have, he’s released a brand new DVD – Joe Rogan: Talking Monkeys In Space (Comedy Central, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP), which also include additional footage and featurettes.

    blankguide.gif

    Criterion continues to release classic flicks that you don’t even know you want in your collection until you sit down to view them. One such impressive flick is Nicholas Ray’s Bigger Than Life (Criterion, Not Rated, Blu-Ray-$39.95 SRP), a 1950’s thriller that finds patriarch James Mason prescribed the then-experimental drug cortisone, which turns the mild-mannered head-of-the-family into a violent despot. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, an interview with Ray, a video appreciation, and more.

    blankguide.gif

    If your kids walked out of the theater eager for some mighty Viking dragon-training action, you can let ’em get into to early onset cosaplying with the How To Train Your Dragon Viking Battle Pack (Spin Master, $19.97 SRP), which comes with a battle helmet, axe, and shield. The How To Train Your Dragon toy line is available exclusively from Wal-Mart.

    blankguide.gif

    You’d be wrong if you dismissed the documentary The Story Of Math (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP) as a dry exploration of the fundamental role of mathematics in life, the universe, and everything – because, in actuality, it’s a glorious celebration of that most pervasive of forces.

    blankguide.gif

    No, I should not be surprised that, after the massive financial success of the first film, there would be Alvin & The Chipmunks: The Squeakquel (Fox, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), but there you go – it’s here. It’s also expanded the live action Chipmunks world with the arrival of the Chippettes, in addition to reducing the role of Jason Lee’s David Seville to a virtual walk-on part. The 3-disc special edition features a clutch of featurettes, music videos, and a standard DVD edition of the film.

    blankguide.gif

    Even when they’re not brilliant, I still enjoy a Nick Hornby film, and I enjoyed An Education (Sony Classics, Rated PG-13, Blu-Ray-$38.96 SRP), which stars Carey Mulligan as a young student who may let her plans for higher learning get derailed by a love affair with an older man (Peter Sarsgaard) in 1960s Britain. Bonus materials include an audio commentary, featurettes, and deleted scenes.

    blankguide.gif

    With the release of the 8th season of Hawaii Five-O (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.99 SRP), we’re only 4 seasons out from finally being able to put a bow on the complete run of Steve McGarrett’s crime-busting in the Aloha State. The 6-disc set contains all 23 episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    You wouldn’t think that a series about the legal maneuvering of a maverick High Court judge would be very appealing, but it is in Judge John Deed (BBC, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP), which stars Martin Shaw as the titular man who uses his intellect to make sure justice is served. The 3-disc set contains the entire first season plus the pilot episode.

    blankguide.gif

    Did you know that Steven Seagal is a deputy of the Jefferson Parish Sheriff’s Office in Louisiana? Yes – that Steven Seagal. Well, if you’re still doubting me, take a look at Steven Seagal: Lawman (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$19.95 SRP). The complete first season set contains all 13 episodes, plus additional footage.

    blankguide.gif

    The penultimate 6th season of Sabrina The Teenage Witch (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) found our supernatural lead firmly ensconced in Boston’s Adams College, hiding her powers from her roommates (including childhood crush Soleil Moon Frye), and trying to have a normal life. The 3-disc set contains all 22 episodes.

    blankguide.gif

    While Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s famous sleuth is the one most-remembered, the detectives that populated the works of other contemporary writers are presented in the second volume of The Rivals Of Sherlock Holmes (Acorn, Not Rated, DVD-$59.99 SRP), which features another 13 episodes of deduction.

    blankguide.gif

    For the pre-schoolers in your life, there’s a pair of new Nick releases sure to keep them occupied while you try and get a moment of peace – The Backyardigans: Escape From The Tower and Nickelodeon: Go Green! (Nickelodeon, Not Rated, DVD-$16.99 SRP each), which features a clutch of environmentally-themed shows.

    blankguide.gif

    Originally intended as its swan song, the strong viewer numbers of 7th Heaven‘s 10th season (Paramount, Not Rated, DVD-$49.98 SRP) instead made it the penultimate outing of the Camden clan. This 5-disc set contains all 22 episodes, but zero bonus features.

    blankguide.gif

    Still with the single disc, no-set releases, fans can now pick up Ben 10: Alien Force Volume 6 (Cartoon Network, Not Rated, DVD-$14.98 SRP). The disc contains a quartet of episodes, plus another installment of the alien database.

    blankguide.gif

    Watch as a family grabs hold of a tragedy and rides it back into the limelight as The Jacksons: A Family Dynasty (A&E, Not Rated, DVD-$24.95 SRP) finds the remaining Jackson brothers in a reality series that makes for awkward viewing, to say the least.

    blankguide.gif

    Want to see what the girls of Jersey Shore will turn into in 20 years time? Pick up the crass, clueless Real Housewives Of New Jersey (Bravo, Not Rated, DVD-$29.95 SRP) and see the sordid, vapid fate time and money has I store for them. The 1st season set contains all of the episodes, plus the reunions, additional footage, and a director’s cut.

    blankguide.gif

    Over the last year, I’ve fallen in love with the work of Hot Toys, which is distributed here in the States by the fine folks at Sideshow Collectibles. Much to my surprise, I also greatly enjoyed the recent CGI Astro Boy feature. So, what do you get when you combine the two? Hot Toys brilliant Astro Boy Vinyl Figure ($64.99). Standing 12″ tall, it captures Astro in the final stages of his construction, suspended by cables. The sculpting, as you can see, is simply incredible. You know you want to get it, too.

    weekendpicks20100402-24

    weekendpicks20100402-25

    weekendpicks20100402-26

    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

    ##