Author: UncaScroogeMcD

  • Win Lenny Kravitz’s LET LOVE RULE on CD!

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    In conjunction with EMI, we’re giving away three (3) copies of Lenny Kravitz’s LET LOVE RULE 20th anniversary edition.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win Sinead O’Connor’s I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN’T GOT on CD!

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    In conjunction with EMI, we’re giving away three (3) copies of Sinead O Connor’s I DO NOT WANT WHAT I HAVEN’T GOT limited edition.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win KNOWING on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Summit Entertainment, we’re giving away five (5) copies of KNOWING on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win PUSH on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Summit Entertainment, we’re giving away five (5) copies of PUSH on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win RENO 911: SEASON 6 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Paramount Home Video & Comedy Central, we’re giving away five (5) copies of RENO 911: SEASON 6 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win a BRUNO prize pack!

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    In conjunction with Universal Pictures, we’re giving away two (2) BRUNO prize packs containing 1 Hat, 1 Bruno Title Treatment T-shirt, 1 Bruno Face T-shirt, 1 Get Uber It T-shirt, 1 Ich Don’t Think So T-shirt, and 1 Nicht Nicht T-shirt – with one special winner also getting a Backpack.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    Bruno will be in US theaters on Friday, July 10th.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win a PUBLIC ENEMIES prize pack!

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    In conjunction with Universal Pictures, we’re giving away a PUBLIC ENEMIES prize pack containing 1 Hat, 1 T-shirt, 1 Long sleeve shirts, and 1 Poster.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    In the action-thriller Public Enemies, acclaimed filmmaker Michael Mann directs Johnny Depp, Christian Bale and Academy Award® winner Marion Cotillard in the story of legendary Depression-era outlaw John Dillinger (Depp) – the charismatic bank robber whose lightning raids made him the number one target of J. Edgar Hoover’s fledgling FBI and its top agent, Melvin Purvis (Bale), and a folk hero to much of the downtrodden public.

    No one could stop Dillinger and his gang. No jail could hold him. His charm and audacious jailbreaks endeared him to almost everyone – from his girlfriend Billie Frechette (Cotillard) to an American public who had no sympathy for the banks that had plunged the country into the Depression.

    But while the adventures of Dillinger’s gang – later including the sociopathic Baby Face Nelson (Stephen Graham) and Alvin Karpis (Giovanni Ribisi) – thrilled many, Hoover (Billy Crudup) hit on the idea of exploiting the outlaw’s capture as a way to elevate his Bureau of Investigation into the national police force that became the FBI. He made Dillinger America’s first Public Enemy Number One and sent in Purvis, the dashing “Clark Gable of the FBI.”

    However, Dillinger and his gang outwitted and outgunned Purvis’ men in wild chases and shootouts. Only after importing a crew of Western ex-lawmen (newly baptized as agents) and orchestrating epic betrayals – from the infamous “Lady in Red” to the Chicago crime boss Frank Nitti – were Purvis, the FBI and their new crew of gunfighters able to close in on Dillinger.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win SMART MASS: THINKING PUTTY from Thinkgeek.com!

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    In conjunction with Thinkgeek.com, we’re giving away ten (10) tins of SMART MASS: THINKING PUTTY.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Win THE IT CROWD: SEASON 2 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with MPI Home Video, we’re giving away five (5) copies of THE IT CROWD: SEASON 2 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July 22nd.

    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 July, 22nd.

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

  • Bagged & Boarded 29: Ding Dong, The Douche Is Dead!

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    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”.

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    BAGGED & BOARDED #29: Ding Dong, The Douche Is Dead!   – In which Matt and Jesse get deep (sexy, right?), do some soul searching/ego shattering, and help plot a course for a wayward Jew. All on a very cathartic B and B.

    [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 #29 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/baggedboarded/bagged_boarded-29.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

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

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    CLICK HERE FOR THE BAGGED & BOARDED ARCHIVES

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  • Weekend Shopping Guide 6/26/09: Cat & Mouse

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

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

    Often viewed as lesser entries in the series and the waning work of an animation genius, I’ve got a warm spot in my heart for the cartoons featured in Tom & Jerry: The Chuck Jones Collection (Warner Bros., Not Rated, DVD-$26.98 SRP), mainly due to their regular Saturday morning rotation during my childhood. The 2-disc set features all 34 theatrical shorts, fully remastered, plus a featurette on Jones’s Tom & Jerry work, plus the TCM special Chuck Jones: Memories Of Childhood.

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    Summer is hot. Very hot. And what can be more useful when determining whether to venture outside your air conditioned cocoon and onto the surface of the sun than to know just what temperature you’ll be encountering – which is easily accomplished with the La Crosse Outdoor LCD Window Thermometer ($12.99). It mounts to the outside of your window, and it’s large, clear display gives you not only the current temperature, but also the day’s high and low temps (for that Almanac you’re keeping).

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    If modern American satire and parody has a father, that man’s name is Harvey Kurtzman. From the founding of Mad through 60’s magazines like Humbug & Help, through Playboy‘s Little Annie Fannie and much more, Kurtzman was not only a vibrant artist, but also a sharp writer and editor. The man and his work is celebrated in a large, excellent tome that should be on your shelf, now – The Art Of Harvey Kurtzman: The Mad Genius Of Comics (Abrams Comicarts, $40.00 SRP).

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    Equal parts Neverending Story and Pagemaster, Brendan Fraser stars as Mo Fulchart, who has the rather awkward ability to bring fictional characters into the real world when he reads their story, and awkward adventures ensue. Inkheart (New Line, Rated PG, DVD-$29.98 SRP) is, like Fraser himself, a likeable lunk of a family flick. Bonus features are limited to a featurette. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with additional bonus features, including a behind-the-scenes featurette and deleted scenes.

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    Even though it’s a sentimental favorite from my childhood, I’m a bit disappointed that the second Mel Brooks film to make it to Blu-Ray is Spaceballs (MGM, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$29.99 SRP). Still, the hi-def picture looks good, and the bonus features from the standard edition are ported over, plus some new featurettes. Also included is the standard edition DVD.

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    We’ve seen fish-out-of-water adults trying to lead scout troops in the past (I’m looking at you, Troop Beverly Hills, and Mr. Troop Mom (Warner Bros., Rated G, DVD-$27.98 SRP) certainly doesn’t break new ground, but George Lopez is winning as the fish-out-of-water father leading his daughter’s scout troop on a camping trip. Bonus materials include featurettes, additional scenes, and a gag reel. A Blu-Ray edition ($35.99 SRP) is also available, with identical bonus materials.

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    On the run from the Mexican Army, a vengeful killer (Leonard Nimoy), and his girlfriend, Yul Brynner’s Catlow (Warner Bros., Rated PG-13, DVD-$14.98 SRP) is a gun-for-hire who can’t even count on the loyalty of his best friend (Richard Crenna). The film is a hoot, but sadly the sole bonus feature is the theatrical trailer.

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    This truly is not saying much, but Pink Panther 2 (MGM, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP) is a better film than the first attempt by Steve Martin to replace the legendary Peter Sellers as bumbling Inspector Jacques Clouseau. It’s still hit or miss, but at least it’s tolerable this go-round. The 3-disc Blu-Ray edition contains featurettes, a gag reel, and 27 classic DePatie-Freleng Pink Panther cartoons.

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    Yes, Jerry Bruckheimer has produced a “chick flick”, an its name is Confessions Of A Shopaholic (Touchstone, Rated PG, Blu-Ray-$39.99 SRP), starring Isla Fisher as a New Yorker eager to writer for a high-fashion magazine who instead lands a column at a financial magazine. The column becomes a hit, she becomes famous, and she falls for her boss. Complications ensue. Bonus features include deleted scenes, featurettes, music videos, and a gag reel.

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    A small town, a missing teen, a cryptic video message, and friends on the lookout make for a surprisingly entertaining thriller in Elsewhere (E1, Rated R, DVD-$24.98 SRP). Bonus features include an audio commentary, a featurette, deleted scenes, and a photo gallery.

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    Morgan Freeman and Antonio Banderas as a pair of thieves out to pull of an impossible heist in New York City? Sure, I’ll give The Code (First Look, Rated R, DVD-$28.98 SRP) a try. Add the KGB, the FBI, and the NYPD in to the mix? Certainly a popcorn flick. A Blu-Ray edition ($29.98 SRP) is also available with a behind-the-scenes featurette and cast/crew interviews.

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    Combine exec producers Tony & Ridley Scott and hosting duties from Terence Stamp with a horror anthology series, and The Hunger (E1, Not Rated, DVD-$39.98 SRP) is at least worth a look. The 4-disc set features all 22 episodes, plus a look at the second season, hosted by David Bowie.

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

    -Ken Plume

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  • Ken P. D. Snyde-Cast #101: Never Say Never

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    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

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    KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #101: Never Say Never – Ken & Dana return with an episode that flirts with tales of debauchery, circling the subject nimbly, before a phone call throws the rhythm off and everything goes wonky.

    [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 #101 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/snydecast/ken_p_d_snyde_cast-101.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

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

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    CLICK HERE FOR THE SNYDECAST ARCHIVES

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  • Cabin Fever 70: Mars Needs Cabin Fever

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    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

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    CABIN FEVER #70: Mars Needs Cabin Fever – As always, things never seem to go according to plan for the Cabin Crew, and this week’s hope that the new mixer would arrive is dashed by a threat to national security. To try and make it up to you (and also to help us out of a jam), JJ Hawkins guests with Aaron to discuss… Well, lots of stuff. This week they’re played out by Song Fu competitor Caleb Lee.

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

    DOWNLOAD: (right click to save)
    Episode #70 (MP3 format)

    [audio:http://traffic.libsyn.com/cabinfever/cabin_fever_70.mp3]

    SUBSCRIBE
    Subscribe to this Podcast via iTunes

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

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    CLICK HERE FOR THE CABIN FEVER ARCHIVES

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  • Contest Round-Up: 2009-06-24

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    Welcome to our weekly round-up of featured giveaways here at Quick Stop. Every Wednesday, 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 Thinkgeek.com, we’re giving away ten (10) cans of PLUTO PLASMA & MARS MUD.

    In conjunction with Shout! Factory, we’re giving away five (5) copies of TRANSFORMERS: SEASON 1 on DVD.

    In conjunction with HBO Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of EASTBOUND AND DOWN on DVD.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI on DVD.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of 12 ROUNDS on DVD.

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

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of GIRLS NEXT DOOR: SEASON 5 on DVD.

    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of REBA: SEASON 6 on DVD.

  • Masters Of Song Fu #4: Challenge 3 Listening Party!

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    This evening – Wednesday, June 24th – we’ll be holding a special live streaming listening party. We’ll be playing all 21 Challenge 3 tunes.

    The event begins at 7:30 pm EST, and you can access it by clicking HERE

    Come on out, support all of the wonderful artists, and then go place your votes if you haven’t already.

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  • Party Favors: Gary Cole Interview

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    TALLADEGA — When a filmmaker wants to depict America’s legendary rugby coach in a film, only a legend actor can handle the job. Forever Strong shines a light on Highland High’s Coach Larry Gelwix. How good is he? His teams are 361-9 in the last three decades. He’s brought 18 of the last 24 National High School titles back to Salt Lake City. Who could dramatically play such an imposing figure behind such figures? Gary Cole took the whistle.

    The star of Pineapple Express and Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby dialed up the Party Favors hotline to discuss his role in Forever Strong which has recently been released on DVD. Oddly enough, the star of Midnight Caller rang me in the afternoon.

    Being in the right place at the right time was the key to Cole landing the role of Coach Gelwix.

    “I was in Salt Lake City in the summer of 2006 making a baseball movie (American Pasttime) when Forever Strong was being prepped and set to go,” Cole said. “I got a call barely two weeks before they were set to shoot. They had the rugby guys in bootcamp for five weeks. I got the call and switched my bags from one hotel to another.”

    With such a short time, how did Cole tap into playing a real life figure?

    “I got the script and I was able to meet with Larry (Gelwix). We talked about the team and his experiences,” Cole said. “Far as the rugby was concerned, he was around all the time. We just went on the fly. It wasn’t like I had two months to bone up on my rugby knowledge – which is still limited. It’s kinda of a difficult game to grasp.”

    After this experience, was Cole inspired to coach a rec league rugby team?

    “I would say no,” Cole declared. “I’ve played a lot of coaches. If it’s a sport you know, you can throw semi-intelligent ad libs from the sidelines because you know the game.” However rugby didn’t fit into the tested coach cliches since there’s no forward passes. “We were always dumbfounded. What should we be saying other than ‘go faster!’ Most of the time you couldn’t hear us and we were shouting out showtunes to crack each other up. They just needed some kind of syllables.”

    There are very little signal calling action for the coaches during the game. The nature of the action ended up dictating the game action captured on film.

    “There’s very little Xs and Os. It’s dictated by the movement of the ball. It’s pretty improvisational,” Cole said. This improv nature of the game became a part of filming the action on the filed. “They just let them play a lot of times. There were scripted things that had to happen in terms of story. But a lot of times they put the camera on a length of track and just let them play.”

    Rugby is known for its brutal action with lack of pads and helmets. The slogan “give blood, play rugby” is truth. How much bloodshed was there on the field during the shoot? Was there a disabled list on the call sheet?

    “Nothing that took anybody out like ‘Oh God, here we go. We got to shut it down. Sean (Faris) earned his money. He had to take most of the shots and they were in the scripts. They were headhunting him and he was the ball carrier. He got his share of bruises, fingers dislodged and a couple of groin pulls here and there. He took plenty of Advil and abuse,” Cole said.

    Even though he didn’t have to take the physical abuse, Cole suffered for the shoot.

    “It was the middle of summer in Salt Lake City,” Cole said. “It was 102 degrees. The coaches hardest job was finding shade on the sidelines and sipping our Gatorade.”

    We discussed the unusual nature of a movie about the ultimate overdog. Sports movies are always about the scrappy underdog going against the well oiled machine. Whether it be Rocky, The Bad News Bears or the 1980 US hockey team; the big dog is meant to be taken down in these films. How did Cole work his version of Gelwik so that he wasn’t Vic Morrow? How do you make the audience embrace the winner who always wins?

    “I think (the movie) had less to do with the success of the team as it did with why and how they’re a success. His methods more than winning and losing,” Cole said. “The story isn’t centered on him. The center is Sean. It’s seen through his eyes. He’s the one changing more drastically in the movie. Larry, the coach, is there doing what he does and has been doing for a long time.”

    There is a Vic Morrow character in the form of Sean’s father played by Neal McDonough. He’s a vicious field coach who hates Gelwik. His anger builds when his troubled son ends up on Highland. Did Cole find the level of his character by balancing his Gelwik off McDonough’s rat bastard coach?

    “No. I didn’t base anything I was doing by viewing him when I wasn’t working. We didn’t have all that much to do together. That’s more of a job of the director to balance out,” Cole said.

    How does Larry Gelwix measure up to the ultimate coach that Cole has played: Reese Bobby in Talladega Nights?

    “They both had different methods, but the results were the same,” Cole declared. “Reese had his own methods. He was pretty one-dimensional in his approach. I don’t think he would have had the patience for a rugby team.”

    Would Reese have released a live cougar on the Highland team bus?

    “He could have done that, but then there would be a lawsuit. Ricky Bobby wasn’t a minor,” Cole said.

    Seeing how Gelwik has only lost 9 games, I ask Cole if he found the coach sensitive about those defeats?

    “I don’t know,” Cole admitted. “He’s emotionally an even keel guy. He’s more Phil Jackson and less George Karl.”
    ?What makes the coach even more amazing of a figure is that this is not his day job. He’s not pulling in the big bucks from Nike.

    “He’s a volunteer. He’s a travel agent,” Cole said. “That says something about him and his method as well.”

    Gary Cole has been on a great roll over the last decade. As Bill Lumbergh in Office Space, Cole delivered the greatest comic sex scene in motion picture history. He was the Vice President of the United States on The West Wing. But I wondered if people ever got him confused with Gary Collins.

    “Gary Collins – no. Gary Coleman – yes,” Cole declared. “I’ve been introduced as Gary Coleman on several occasions.”

    Coincidentally, if you type Gary Cole’s name into the imdb, the first actor on the list is Gary Coleman.

    His role as Mike Brady in The Brady Bunch Movie was marked a stellar dadfro. Did he hang onto the curly haired wig?

    “I did at one time. I think it’s burned up in the atmosphere,” Cole admitted. “The thing about The Brady Bunch is that when I wasn’t on the set, rarely people knew that it was me. You take that hair off, you’re a different person. I didn’t get a lot of association with the movie until later.”

    Gary has a massive filmography. Does he ever take a day off?

    “I’ve been fairly busy. I’m doing this season of Entourage. There’s plenty of days off. Most of the parts I get are wrapped up in two to three weeks in the course of a two to three month movie,” Cole said.

    Besides working live action, Cole has been busy behind the microphone in animated shows including Kim Possible, King of the Hill and Family Guy. His crowning achievement was the lead in Harvey Birdman: Attorney at Law. Stephen Colbert voiced Phil Ken Sebben, the owner of the Hanna-Barbera themed legal firm. Did Cole and Colbert rock the microphones at the same time?
    “We never did the voices together. We never met until after the show had wrapped. I met him at what turned out to be the last Aspen Comedy Festival. They were doing a tribute to him. Most of the time he was in New York,” Cole said.

    Back in the ’80s, Cole was a finalist for the role of Sonny Crockett on Miami Vice. I had to know if he had landed the gig instead of Don Johnson; would Gary Cole have released a rock album?

    He laughed for a while. “Highly doubtful,” Cole declared.

    In an alternate universe, there isn’t a Rolling Stone magazine cover insisting “Gary Cole: Rock n Roll Star.”

    WHY NOT THE SHE-TEAM?

    Why exactly are they going to make A-Team into a feature film? Must we watch another batch of actors dress up in Halloween costumes for two hours? Liam Neeson playing Col. Hannibal Smith? He was going to retire from acting after Phantom Menace. Is he really going to get the rejuvenation spark from saying, “I love it when a plan comes together?” The guy would be so much better off just making Banacek: The Movie. Bradley Cooper is supposed to be Face and Common as Mr. T. How sad and predictable. Why not get semi-creative and cast Katee Sackhoff as Face. She’s already proven to be an equal of Dirk Benedict as Starbuck on Battlestar Galactica. Why not let her tackle his other big TV role? Or just cast her as B.A. Baracus? The woman has more attitude than the snoozer cast being floated by Scott Free.

    FINALLY

    Shutter Island finally brings together the superstar teaming of Martin Scorsese and Jackie Earle Haley. Leonardo DiCaprio better give full respect to the man who perfected the troubled teen persona when junket time rolls around.

    BLU-RAY HEAVEN

    The Siege Blu-ray gives a new life to a thriller that deserves a second viewing based on its story and amazing list of supporting actors. A decade after its release, this “It can’t happen here” story of radical Islamic terrorists striking New York City is almost a text book of what people have seen happen in the post-9/11 Manhattan. The terrorists are blowing up buses and Broadway theaters to the point where the military takes control of Brooklyn to weed them out. The ending is a bit too optimistic compared to the harsh reality of what happened when they struck in New York City. But it is rather good at foreshadowing the nature of the enemy we’ve been fighting for the last 8 years. While the film stars Denzel Washington, Annette Bening and Bruce Willis, it’s the faces that have become familiar over the last decade that make this movie more surprising than a backpack of C-4. Denzel’s main FBI man is Tony Shalhoub (Monk). The Daily Show‘s Aasif Mandvi is tied in with the terrorists. Also in minor roles are Lance Reddick (The Wire and Fringe), David Proval (The Sopranos) and Mark Valley (Keen Eddie). The Blu-ray brings out the explosions detail. The battle of Brooklyn is exceptionally vivid in the format. There are no bonus features which is a shame since it’d be nice to have terrorism experts pondering if this was a vision of the future.

    Predator 2 – Blu-ray brings an intergalactic hunter out of the jungle and into Los Angeles. What’s the best way to stop the carnage? Have him sign a development deal with Pax-TV. Danny Glover is the cop who finds himself the target of the semi-visible target. The movie doesn’t have the complete punch of The Predator. But it’s fascinating to see the alien killing machine wrecking the urban jungle as he looks for the most dangerous game in Hollywood. The high definition picture makes the alien effects glow. The strange thrill will come from seeing Morton Downey Jr. in 1080p. The bonus features give a sense of what the writers and director went through to bring this sequel to the city.

    Lost: The Complete First Season – Blu-ray and Lost: The Complete Second Season – Blu-ray give the 1080p love to one of the most complex network TV shows since The Prisoner. The Complete First Season jolts everything as Oceanic flight 815 crashes onto an uncharted island. The passengers learn quickly to survive as they realize there’s little hope for a quick rescue. Each episode allows us to explore the various survivors as they explore the mysterious island. What is the deal with polar bears in the tropics? What is the force that drags people into holes? Why did John Locke (Terry O’Quinn) become such a survivalist stud even though he had an issue before takeoff. What are “The Others” that lurk on the island? It’s a frightening time around the campfire. And with the higher resolutions, you’ll be scared by things that go bump in the jungle. The big cliffhanger has them bust into a mysterious metal hatch. What’s down there? The Complete Second Season answers the hatch question with startling results. Not to spoil the fun, but Clancy Brown (Highlander) plays a startling guest role. He will remind you to push the button or else. Another big thing is a flashback that allows us to discover what happened to the Oceanic passengers that got stuck at the back of the plane. The passengers at the front finally encounter the Others. It ain’t a good meetin. The hi-def video quality is stunning on the big screen. The lush tropical nature of the show will make you sweat if you marathon the episodes. You can reach out and touch Matthew Fox’s beard. These first two seasons help set up the weirdness that would come. In case you’re wondering, next season will have the final 17 episodes. Time to catch up before the TV event of 2010 strikes when everything gets answered. For those pondering upgrading your original DVDs, there is a $20 rebate on each boxset. This is a geek out recommend.

    Home – Blu-ray is a lush aerial documentary of the Earth. Yann Arthus-Bertrand takes his camera around the globe to let us see what’s going on. Besides the artistry of these bird’s eye views, the movie reminds us that our actions do have reactions. Many of them aren’t that pretty. Glenn Close narrates the footage. If you like to watch Baraka after a few refreshments, Home deserves a spot on your Blu-ray shelf.

    Friday 13th, Part 2 – Blu-ray gets the upgrade action. The film starts off with the final showdown between what we think is Jason and Alice Hardy (Adrienne King). Watch the high definition picture, the entire opening scene really does make little sense. Who is the killer and who is the victim? It’s a really disjointed opening scene. The main story has Camp Crystal Lake reopening with a whole new batch of eager camp counselors. Do these kids not understand what happened to the last batch? Maybe it has been five years, but they’re going to get it. Why? Cause Jason is back although he hasn’t started wearing his hockey mask. He goes crazy with the new staff. Who will live to tell the tale? There’s quite a few fun bonus features for fans wanting to know more about this low budget slasher series that made a major profit at the box office. They even take us to a horror convention to get a sense of the film’s fans.

    Friday 13th, Part 3 3-D- Blu-ray really lets you absorb the coming at you action versus the recent DVD release. If you’ve decided to buy the 70 inch widescreen set versus sending the kids to Harvard, prepare to jump behind the sofa. Jason is coming for you. And they’ll be coming for your friend since there’s two set of 3-D glasses in the plastic box. The movie has Jason finally move on from slaughtering camp counselors. Now he’s killing people in the area around the camp. It’s so touching when a mindless killing machine branches out. And with the red and blue lensed glasses, you’ll be able be a part of this moment. This is also the film where he dons the hockey goalie mask. “Legacy of the Mask” deals with the mask over the next several films in the series. “Fresh Cuts: 3D Terror” lets us know why the producers decided to make the terror jump out of the screen. The films was such a hit, they ran out of glasses. There’s also a 2-D version of the film for people who don’t want to be super scared. This is the perfect gift if you’re attempting to give someone a case of nightmares for the next summer.

    DVD SHELF

    Another three Friday 13th installments arrive as Deluxe Editions. You might want to spread some plastic on the floor in front of the TV to keep the blood from staining the carpet.

    Friday 13th: The Final Chapter – Deluxe Edition was supposed to wrap up the saga of Jason Voorhees. They brought back make up man Tom Savini to kill off his creation. They even brought in major star power with Crispin Glover and Corey Feldman. Guess who survives? You’re wrong! Really wrong. For what was supposed to be a finale, Jason decides to crash a house party in the woods. Crispin Glover and his pals can’t even find the place. But Jason has no problems locating the residence. He must have used Google Slaughter Earth. Corey Feldman is the creepy kid who lives next to the party house. He’s a lonely dork who loves making monster make up. He’s like a young Tom Savini. During the scenes where Corey gets chased by Jason, it’s easy to think that this would foreshadow his relationship with Michael Jackson. Not to spoil the film, but Jason’s death is extremely gruesome. Damn shame this moment wasn’t shot in 3-D. The big bonus feature is the deleted ending of the film. There’s no soundtrack so it gets described. “Jason’s Unlucky Day” lets the director talk about all the moments that had to get snipped by MPAA orders to get the R rating. It’s more brutal than the action on the screen.

    Friday 13th Part V: A New Beginning – Deluxe Edition brings back Corey Feldman for the opening scene. He fears that Jason isn’t really dead. Two dumb jocks dig up a sloppy grave and get slaughtered by the hockey mask wearing killer. Turns out that this might be a dream. In fact it’s been years since Corey Feldman (SPOILER ALERT) had his way with Jason. Now he’s a grown up played by John Shepherd. Trouble is he’s stuck in a nut house. Jason returns from the grave and sends the troubled teens to a violent end. At least we think he has. Someone with a machete and a hockey mask is slashing away. The best victim is the new wave girl with the funky hair and Walkman. “New Beginnings” gives the background on this production. They went out of their way to hide the fact that this was another Friday 13th movie. They didn’t want the fans to think they were ripped off at the death of Jason. You won’t want to watch this first since there’s a montage showing everyone who gets killed in the film. It’s a major spoiler. There’s another installment of “Lost Tales From Camp Blood” and “Crystal Lake Massacres Revisited.” These two shorts are goofy as they ad to the weirdness of Jason’s history.

    Friday 13th Part VI: Jason Lives – Deluxe Edition really does revive Jason. Corey Feldman’s character is now played by Thom Matthews. He and a pal dig up Jason’s grave to cremate the body. This plan goes severely wrong. Jason ends up making a major comeback. Hopefully that clue didn’t ruin the truth of Part V. But now Tommy and Jason get to battle once more. Although it’s not as fun since it’s not Corey Feldman being chased around. There’s more killing and carnage. Do not mistake this DVD for the Baby Einstein series. The DVD contains various scenes that were slashed to get the R-rating. Why couldn’t Tommy just let Jason rot in his grave?

    All three boxes have cool 3-D graphics on the covers. They’re perfect for decorating your veal pen.

  • Win TRANSFORMERS: SEASON 1 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Shout! Factory, we’re giving away five (5) copies of TRANSFORMERS: SEASON 1 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win REBA: SEASON 6 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of REBA: SEASON 6 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win GIRLS NEXT DOOR: SEASON 5 on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of GIRLS NEXT DOOR: SEASON 5 on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win THE BETRAYED on DVD!

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

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win 12 ROUNDS on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away three (3) copies of 12 ROUNDS on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI on DVD!

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    In conjunction with Fox Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of STREET FIGHTER: THE LEGEND OF CHUN-LI on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win EASTBOUND AND DOWN on DVD!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with HBO Home Video, we’re giving away two (2) copies of EASTBOUND AND DOWN on DVD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Win PLUTO PLASMA & MARS MUD from Thinkgeek.com!

    contestheader.jpg

    In conjunction with Thinkgeek.com, we’re giving away ten (10) cans of PLUTO PLASMA & MARS MUD.

    Contest ends at 11:59pm EST on Wednesday, July, 15th.

    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 July, 15th.

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

  • Masters Of Song Fu #4: Round 3 Challenge Voting Begins!

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    ******DUE TO THE HOLIDAY, ANNOUNCEMENT OF THE FINAL CHALLENGE WILL BE MADE DURING THE WEEK OF JULY 6th. IN THE MEANTIME, CONGRATULATIONS TO BERG & JERRY FOR MOVING ON TO THE FINAL ROUND******

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    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 unique form of creative combat here at the Stop.

    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…

    Like a songwriting version of Iron Chef, the competitors will 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 – after which time the entries will be uploaded to Quick Stop to be voted on by you, the audience.

    Oh, and what do we call this competition?

    MASTERS OF SONG FU

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    Let us not forget the very special Masters of MASTERS OF SONG FU. Think of them as the iron chefs of Song Fu – one of which will be revealed as the ultimate challenger in THE FINAL CHALLENGE. Past Masters have included Jonathan Coulton, Paul & Storm, Neil Innes, The RiffTones, and Garfunkel & Oates. Any one of them could be the Master in the final Challenge – or perhaps it could be a brand new Master. Only the Challenger who garners the most cumulative votes in all 3 Challenges will move on to the Final and face that Master, mano a mano.

    As with the last edition of Song Fu, all of the Challengers will be able to compete in every Challenge, and the Challenger with the most cumulative votes after the 3 Challenges will be the one that takes on the Master in the Final Round. So what was the first Challenge?

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    ROUND 1 CHALLENGE

    Write a song from the perspective of an inanimate object. This inanimate object must have no moving parts. Also no computers, no objects that look like living things, either human or animal (i.e. a statue, an action figure, etc.), and no celestial objects (i.e. the sun or the moon). Your song can be in any style you choose.

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

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    You’ll find the Round 1 songs from each of our Challengers below (for those Challengers that did not progress to Round 2, you’ll find those songs HERE), as well as the results of the Round 1 voting. The Challengers were then issued their Round 2 Challenge…

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    ROUND 2 CHALLENGE

    Write a march.

    A march is “a piece of music with a strong regular rhythm which in origin was expressly written for marching to” – and that is your challenge. You can write on any topic. Your song must run no shorter than 1 minute 15 seconds.

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    You’ll find the Round 2 songs from each of our Challengers below (for those Challengers that did not progress to Round 3, you’ll find those songs HERE), as well as the results of the Round 2 voting. The Challengers were then issued their Round 3 Challenge…

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    ROUND 3 CHALLENGE

    For your third challenge, you are to write a standard song. I am defining a “standard song” as one with a definite melody and a chorus that repeats at least once (to clarify: the chorus should appear at least twice in the song). However, your song must run EXACTLY 1 minute in length – no shorter, and no longer. You can write on any topic.

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    You’ll find the Round 3 songs from each of our Challengers below, followed by the voting form…

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    THE CHALLENGERS

    EDRIC HALEEN

    songfu-edrichaleen.jpgEdric has been writing music (off and on) since the early nineties. 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. He is also happy to finally return his Happiness Board to the Internet. Check out the link on his web pages.

    Official Website: happinessboard.com/Edric_Haleen.html
    ROUND 3 SONG:Acceptance
    ROUND 2 SONG:Whispered In Your Ear
    ROUND 1 SONG:All For This Moment

    GöDZ PööDLZ

    Legendz foretell of a mighty duo, born in the frozen North. Two neighborz and friendz will unite to form “Gödz Pöödlz” and battle the Mazterz or Song Fu for glory and bragging rightz! Gödz Pöödlz are Rüss Rögers and Röd Dürre. Rüss Rögers was once a member of “Kit and Kaboodle” (still available on iTunes) and currently performs in “Rusty’s Rocking Jamboree!” Röd Dürre wrote and performed with the Goth Rock Godz “Sear”, and last year Röd won the Coor’s Light “Take the 4:53 to Happy Hour” songwriting contest! Remember, the heaviest of metals are soft!

    Official Website: www.rockingjamboree.com
    ROUND 3 SONG:Bomb Squad Girl
    ROUND 2 SONG:Godz Poodlz On Parade
    ROUND 1 SONG:Bad Penny

    STEVE CHATTERTON

    songfu-stevechatterton.pngHi, my name is Steve Chatterton, the quintessential one-man-band singer/songwriter net-based recording project. Mom always said I marched to the sound of a different drummer, but she never mentioned which one. Dad had a fondness for bagpipes. Fortunately, neither of them have any direct influence on my music. Specializing in quirky little guitar-oriented pop songs about bugs, the Scooby gang, pirates, palindromes, superheroes, old movies, infectious diseases, imaginary friends and sideshow freaks, I guess you could say I pretty much write love songs. I’m a cheesy bastard at heart. I’m a stay-at-home dad who’s looking to find more time in the studio when my youngest starts school in September. I have an ever-expanding back catalog (at least 3 albums worth & counting) I’m dying to share with the world one download at a time.

    Official Website: www.stevechatterton.com
    Twitter: twitter.com/SteveChatterton
    ROUND 3 SONG:You Chose To Be A Dick
    ROUND 2 SONG:The Only Way I Know
    ROUND 1 SONG:I Will Always Look Up To You

    JUTZE SCHULT

    Johannes “Jutze” Schult (from Germany) likes to live in a dream world where there has been no Grunge and where he is a talented singer. Sometimes his little folky pop songs find their way into the real world. Here they suffer from his hoarse voice and the do-it-yourself home recording production, struggling to appeal off and on beaten musical paths.

    Official Website: www.jutze.com
    Twitter: twitter.com/schult
    ROUND 3 SONG:Joey Dumps Pacey
    ROUND 2 SONG:March 2003
    ROUND 1 SONG:Natalie Portman’s Doormat

    JALEPENO HABANEROS

    In the far off land of Chandler, Arizona, where the rivers flow with sand and cacti, our leader and master, the Lord of Our Lady Gwynyth, guitar and microphone in hand, called for the greatest musicians in the land to assemble a rock and roll group like none other. Unfortunately, they were cut off on the road, and the Jalapeño Habañeros made it there first. With The Rogue Bohemian on saxophone and The Boxcar Bassist on bass and keyboards, the Lord was pleased. Now, they roam the streets of Chandler, playing epic songs and rocking faces, much like Bon Jovi. Unfortunately they are paid in change, and often get thrown into the street, also like Bon Jovi. Their lives have intertwined, and the era of the Jalapeño Habañeros has begun. Be prepared.

    Official Website: None
    ROUND 3 SONG:Wish You Were Here (Falling)
    ROUND 2 SONG:La Marcha de Oppurtunidades
    ROUND 1 SONG:Aquaman’s Trident’s Lament

    THE SCRIBBLES

    The Scribbles are one of the most popular ukulele-based trios in their entire 6th grade class. Oh sure, there is the rumor that Peter Choi hates them. Meh. He’s a hater. Ha ha. The Scribbles formed last November when they all agreed on the name. After that they bought some instruments and started writing songs and stuff. So far, they’ve played a handful of shows around their hometown of Springfield, MO. Everyone’s favorite song seems to be “The Robot Song”. Maybe it’s because robots really are taking over the world, or maybe because Connor wears the robot suit during that song and that’s pretty funny. Thanks to MySpace, they are now friends with really cool people like The Beatles and Weezer and Tom. They’ve said some really nice things like “iloveyouguys:D” and “thanx for the add:).” Oh, and by the way, Peter Choi, The Scribbles still luv u.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/thescribbles1
    ROUND 3 SONG:We Miss You Yeti
    ROUND 2 SONG:The Student’s Revenge
    ROUND 1 SONG:Snuggie Like Me

    GORBZILLA

    songfu-gorbzilla.pngGorbzilla is a musician/band teacher in Mid-Michigan. He has been in a few bands over the years, most notably as the bass player/vocalist for the band “Satin Jones” and the guitarist/vocalist for the band “Jimmy Likes Pie”. The proud father of two future rock maniacs, Gorbzilla has been writing music for the past twenty years, and is currently working on his first musical Beer ““ Finally a Musical for Men based on the Haiku by Patrick “Horkmeister” Sweet entitled, “I Think I Threw Up”. He has been happily married for eight years, and is looking forward to this competition.

    Official Website: gorbzilla.blogspot.com
    ROUND 3 SONG:Minuteman
    ROUND 2 SONG:March Of The Geeks (Semi-Autobiographical)
    ROUND 1 SONG:I Am Your Pants

    DARRELL MacLAINE

    Darrell Maclaine has been devouring comedy songs and interesting music ever since he was old enough to know better, and is taking part in this competition essentially as penance for the amount of free music he has obtained via the previous rounds. He plays piano and keyboard bass as one fifth of oddball UK pop group The Directors (another fifth of the group, Mathew Cornah, possesses both more instrumental expertise and a much better home studio than him and will inevitably be press-ganged into contributing to his entries), and has decided to exercise his rusty songwriting muscles in the most embarrassingly public way possible.

    Official Website: directors.mashedbins.com
    ROUND 3 SONG:Song
    ROUND 2 SONG:Football Is Good (The Football Song)
    ROUND 1 SONG:Strawberry Fool

    BERG AND JERRY

    Berg and Jerry are a small suburban acoustic group comprised of Andrew Berg (Lead Vocals, Melodica and, maybe, eventually the Ukulele) and Jerry Geleff (Guitar and Backup Vocals). Mid-summer ’08, Berg and Jerry began writing songs together and since then… well, basically nothing. As rookies to this competition, these guys hope to at least make one good song, and entertain at least one person (*fingers crossed*). Berg and Jerry have a fun ska/indie/punk acoustic sound and often try to write clever witty lyrics. So listen, laugh, and something else that starts with an “L”, because Berg and Jerry are ready to slightly attempt to be THE MASTERS OF SONG FU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/bergandjerry
    ROUND 3 SONG:Inside Jokes
    ROUND 2 SONG:This Day Shall Be Mine
    ROUND 1 SONG:The Green Potato Chip Song

    DENISE HUDSON

    Denise lived in a grey house in the city of Austin. Her favorite pastimes were playing piano, polishing her guitar, and tormenting the geeky programmer boy who lived there. His name was Michael, but she never called him that… Isn’t that a wonderful bio???

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/denisehudson
    ROUND 3 SONG:O Queen
    ROUND 2 SONG:Anna’s Gerbil & The Singularity
    ROUND 1 SONG:Leave The Stone Alone, Yep

    LEX VADER

    Lex Vader was born to a single mother who worked as silicon tycoon’s personal assistant. When she died of poor hygiene, Lex was sent to an orphanage where he showed interest in organizing races and laser fencing. After being recruited into a religious order, he spent the next few years between several of their private schools. In his final year, Lex lost his hand in an argument with a professor over Kryptochlorians. Despite this, Lex was able to achieve a successful business career and even a knighthood. Tragedy struck, however, when a former classmate’s arctic home caught fire during a business lunch, scarring half of Lex’s face. At this point, Lex’s behavior became erratic. When he managed to buy SithCo, the cult that schooled him, he was shunned by the corporate world. No longer taken seriously, Lex started an evil empire and now moonlights with his evil emotronic alternapop band.

    Official Website: lexvaderssecretjournal.wordpress.com
    ROUND 3 SONG:Keen Dreams
    ROUND 2 SONG:Doomsday March
    ROUND 1 SONG:Just A Rock

    CALEB HINES

    Caleb became a software engineer instead of a musician because the type of music he likes best went out of style at the end of the 18th century. Self-taught in music theory, he is more comfortable writing a four-part instrumental fugue than he is writing a verse-chorus-bridge song. After discovering the likes of Weird Al, Dr. Horrible, and especially Jonathan Coulton, he realized that “modern music” can be fun too. Now he is on a quest to update, expand, and diversify his musical knowledge and experience. In addition to singing, he plays a whole family of recorders (not usually all at once) and baroque flute, pretends to play keyboard, and most recently, ukulele. He also uses virtual MIDI instruments because a real orchestra costs too much.

    Official Website: refactoringmybrain.blogspot.com
    Twitter: twitter.com/calebhines
    ROUND 3 SONG:A Standard Song
    ROUND 2 SONG:Marching To Selador (Traditional Dwarven March)
    ROUND 1 SONG:Ancient Wonder

    RICHARD CLAYTON SPRING

    Hailing from a small town in Southern Minnesota, Richard Clayton Spring has risen above the norm, blossoming into a beautiful butterfly of acoustic guitars, pianos, synths, electronic beats, and vocals ranging from the softest of whispers to the yelp of the Great Wolf. The only style of music Richard can’t write incredibly is generic pop music, or else he would be in a limousine drinking champagne with Lady GaGa. But he has acquired an auto-tuner, so he’s working his way there.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/richardclaytonspring
    ROUND 3 SONG:Warp Speed
    ROUND 2 SONG:A Soldier Forever
    ROUND 1 SONG:Crazy Straw

    SARA PARSONS

    Parsons is a 20-year-old student from California. She can leap small buildings in a few bounds. She fears large fish, but for some reason not sharks or whales. Parsons always makes the same New Year’s resolution: to survive to see the next year. So far, this has worked well for her. Parsons comes from an impressive songwriting pedigree: her older brother wrote the song “Blue Moon” in 1934, managing to overcome his crippling dyslexia and the fact that the song was written 51 years before his birth. Parsons’s songwriting influences include Beethoven, The Beatles, and Weird Al. Her sense of humor comes from The Simpsons, Mystery Science Theater 3000, and her frequent injections of concentrated doses of Vitamin K. Parsons hopes to go far in this competition. If she doesn’t emerge victorious, she will be forced to turn to Operation Omega. Nobody wants that to happen.

    Official Website: www.youtube.com/user/sargeantketchup
    ROUND 3 SONG:I Can’t Sleep (Manatee Dreams)
    ROUND 2 SONG:Let’s Have An Awkward March
    ROUND 1 SONG:Throw Me Away

    IAN & MELISSA

    Melissa and Ian are two amateur musicians with a longtime love of composing and performing classical music. Whether this is useful or relevant for a songwriting competition remains to be seen. They are eagerly awaiting the “Write a song in the style of an obscure Baroque composer” round, ’cause somebody totally told them there would be such a round and why would someone lie like that?

    Official Website: www.ianandmelissa.com
    ROUND 3 SONG:Quickie
    ROUND 2 SONG:Song FUneral March
    ROUND 1 SONG:I Remember

    THE PERFECT PLACE

    When two musicians marry one another, it’s a wonderful thing. When a multi-instrumental songwriter marries an amazing vocalist, it’s even better. Bud (oldest of three, one insane sibling of each gender) was born and raised in sunny San Diego, CA ““ a drummer first, guitarist second, and just about everything you could imagine third through last. Christin Joy (youngest of four, with 3 older brothers) was born and raised in beautiful Annapolis, MD ““ with the voice of an angel and the compassion to match; she is quite a wonderful singer and writer. The Perfect Place is a Husband/Wife duo that enjoys writing and performing music in their spare time. While their main area of expertise is theologically minded, they have been known to get a little silly from time to time. Masters of Song Fu should prove to be an interesting challenge, one we await with eager anticipation. Woot!

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/oneperfectplace
    ROUND 3 SONG:wtfpeople20 (Three Short Stories)
    ROUND 2 SONG:March Of The Clandestine Ninjas
    ROUND 1 SONG:If I’ve Learned Anything

    HIS NAME IS LEGS

    His Name Is Legs is a newly-created rock band comprised of guitarist/vocalist/Song Fu veteran Hazen Nester and bassist Cameron Accola, who collaborated with Nester on two of his previous entries. Born out of a mutual love of Rush and talented musicians in general, His Name Is Legs pledges to provide listeners with an eclectic array of sounds designed to stimulate and elevate. What makes this band unique is that neither Accola nor Nester have ever met each other in person.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/hisnameislegs
    ROUND 3 SONG:Swan Song
    ROUND 2 SONG:The Ocoee Shopper
    ROUND 1 SONG:One Of The Team

    CALEB LEE

    To Whom It May Concern: Caleb didn’t want to write his own bio (musicians, eh?) so I will do the honours. After peddling his wares leading the criminally unnoticed Yay For Squares (www.myspace.com/yayforsquares) and playing an inadvisable amount of shows alongside good friends The Tastydactyls, Caleb decided to go solo in the early parts of 2008. Since then he’s enjoyed the success of dozens of fans and casual mentions on low-brow podcasts. With a flair for heartfelt song-writing and a wildly erotic combover, he’s hoping to win your love in this competition and will be wildly neurotic about it until he does so. – His bud, Aaron.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/caleblee
    Twitter: twitter.com/thecaleblee
    ROUND 3 SONG:Don’t Sing Along
    ROUND 1 SONG:How Man Years Bad Luck If You Break A Mirror’s Heart

    AUSTIN & THE PUDAKS

    With only two members, the name may be misleading, but that seems to be a theme here. Austin Morley and Jeremy Pudak have been playing music together for several years now, and have never really settled on a genre or a name. In their younger days they would draw on rock influences like Rancid or The Ramones. In recent years, they have settled into slightly quieter influences like She & Him and Bob Dylan. Jeremy has always had a talent for the guitar, but Austin was not so lucky and decided to stick with a bass guitar. Austin & The Pudaks will be rocking your face off, but may not actually be in a rock genre. Be careful, as exposure to this amount of awesome has unpredictable effects.

    Official Website: www.myspace.com/nodirectionhome89
    ROUND 3 SONG:Typo In The Lyric Sheet
    ROUND 1 SONG:A Record Of Your Life

    DERREK J. THOMPSON

    Derrek J. Thompson is an irresponsible and unimportant song-writer and all-around creative type that lives in the middle of nowhere. His hobbies include sleeping and performing Bach at old-folks homes. He plays keyboards in a band called Anthropophobia but they don’t seem to be going anywhere. He hopes to become more disciplined with his creative endeavors as a result of Song Fu.

    Official Website: www.derrekswords.com/
    ROUND 3 SONG:Fu In The Key Of C
    ROUND 1 SONG:O’Riely’s Underpants

    TRAVIS NORRIS

    Over the twelve years since young-ish midwesterner Travis Norris first picked up a guitar, he has played and written music in a wide variety of genres ranging from rock that a-billies, metal of a medium or heavier weight, “outlaw” country (aka “the good kind”) and “frosty” jazz (not a real subgenre). Left to his own devices, something like “U2 meets Jonny Lang meets various two-to-three-hit-wonder bands of the ’90s indie/alternative scene” is what you’ll usually get. Travis’s instrumental talents range from lead guitar, 2nd lead guitar, rhythm guitar, auxiliary guitar, and bass (sorta). He can also drag and drop drum loops like you wouldn’t believe. He comes to this competition armed with three electric guitars, a neglected bass, an Ebow, and absolutely no fan base or public recognition. So be nice, eh? I hear he’s real sensitive when people that aren’t him make fun of him.

    Official Website: NONE
    ROUND 3 SONG:Finite
    ROUND 2 SONG:Deserter’s March
    ROUND 1 SONG:Enertronic Bow

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    To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 3 songs, CLICK HERE.

    To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 2 songs, CLICK HERE.
    To download a ZIP FILE containing all of the ROUND 1 songs, CLICK HERE.

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    ROUND 3 VOTING

    And now, it’s time for that all important voting. For this round, you can choose your TOP 5 FAVORITE Challenger songs. Be sure to choose carefully. VOTING CLOSES AT 11:59pm EST on SUNDAY, JUNE 28th. If you are having trouble voting, CLEAR YOUR BROWSER’S CACHE and try again. THE FINAL CHALLENGE WILL BE REVEALED ON MONDAY, JUNE 29th.

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    ROUND 3 VOTING – THE CHALLENGERS

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    View Results

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    ROUND 2 VOTING RESULTS – THE CHALLENGERS

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    ROUND 1 VOTING RESULTS – THE CHALLENGERS

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    View Results

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    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.

    Good luck, and bring on the Fu.

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