Friday, April 30, 2010

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 06: Mather Zickel!



Now available!

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 06: Mather Zickel

Cole, Vanessa and the handsome, hilarious Mather Zickel (“Rachel Getting Married,” “Reno 911!”) talk Dungeons & Dragons, Bubo, the Smurfs Movie, anal media, heavenly bunk-beds, Critters 2, 3D, Joe Estevez, Roger Corman, the Janekasaurus, and Mather’s set-lifted wardrobe.

LISTEN on our website

SUBSCRIBE

and please rate it and leave a nice comment to help us get featured!

Enjoy!

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 05: Chris Hardwick!



Now available!

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 05: Chris Hardwick

Cole, Vanessa and our favorite Nerdist Chris Hardwick (“Web Soup,” “Singled Out”) talk Tron, the iPad, remaking Fletch, the Disney Vault, getting naked for Steven Seagal, Lode Runner, Hufflepuff, foul-mouthed kids, Dave Coulier, the Hollywood Squares, demeaning commercial auditions and a super-extreme version of Apple Care.

LISTEN on our website

SUBSCRIBE

and please rate it and leave a nice comment to help us get featured!

Enjoy!

Sunday, April 18, 2010

They just don't make 'em like that anymore...


As a life-long cinema enthusiast, there's nothing I like better than discussing (or heatedly arguing about) movies--whether its defending a widely-snubbed film, gushing about a classic, trashing a brainless blockbuster, or bringing attention to an over-looked gem.

Film criticism is a tough occupation--especially one you can actually scratch out a living doing. With Internet bloggers willing to write up reviews for free (in exchange for the screening pass), and lots of moviegoers trusting quick little viral paragraphs or reviews as simple as "It kicks ass!" or "Sucks the big one!," it seems the era of thoughtful, well-written criticism may be heading the way of the VHS tape or the physical on-site video store.

I was disheartened to hear about the cancellation of At The Movies, the weekly half-hour review show, now hosted by A.O. Scott of The New York Times and Michael Phillips of the Chicago Tribune. They are staying on-board 'til August, then it seems that the long-standing program will leave the airwaves. A real shame--it's been around in different incarnations since the early 1980s, where it started with arguably the most beloved and influential of all film critics--Gene Siskel and Roger Ebert.

Siskel and Ebert, and their iconic balcony (which, instead of ending up in the Smithsonian, was just broken down and tossed into the trash), offered up some incredibly smart, funny and level-headed criticism. They were accessible, strongly opinionated, and fair. I may not have always agreed with them (see some of the links below), but I always respected what they had to say. What really came across was their incredible love for film, and their enthusiasm was contagious. I owe them a HUGE thank you--because of their inspiration, I dabbled in film reviews at an early age, writing a review for the Wherehouse video chain's in-store magazine of The Lost Boys, which was published and earned me a free prize (which ended up being a Pirates of Dark Water kite...I was hoping for an MGM coffee mug or something less kiddy). I was fourteen at the time, and I soon brought my love for movies to The Davis Enterprise, a daily newspaper where I was interning after school. I was eventually put in charge of co-ordinating a bi-weekly Sunday edition page called "Youth Beat," where we profiled outstanding young people in the community. The other big feature on the page were my movie reviews--where for two or so years I had hundreds of by-lines, simply writing about what I loved the most. Although I didn't end up pursuing a job in journalism or film criticism, I always kept that critical eye and unbridled enthusiasm for cinema, which is probably pretty evident from the bulk of my blog posts.

When we lost Siskel in 1999, the show went through a rough period of guest hosts who could never quite fill his chair. Ebert soldiered on, bantering with the likes of critics like Elvis Mitchell, Joel Siegel, Lisa Schwarzbaum, Kenneth Turan, and even crazy Bay Area personality Jan Wahl, who rates films by a number of "hats." Acclaimed directors such as Martin Scorsese, Peter Bogdanovich and Kevin Smith also filled in. Eventually, Richard Roeper of The Chicago Sun-Times became the go-to guy, and Ebert & Roeper was born. A few years later, Ebert was diagnosed with thyroid cancer, and had to leave the show. Roeper continued the guest critic rotation, then announced he was leaving the show in 2008 after a contractual dispute. They foolishly revamped the show, trying to draw in a younger audience with new hosts Ben Lyons and Ben Mankiewicz. They introduced an awkward Critics Roundtable segment, and seemed to try to switch things up weekly. Lyons seemed to always like everything, drawing the ire of a lot of long-time viewers who resisted the changes. Thankfully, that experiment drew to a close, and Scott and Phillips took over.

With At The Movies heading off the air, one can only hope that the website, atthemoviestv.com, stays active, as they have archived thousands of video reviews. I spent hours last night watching tons of old Siskel and Ebert clips, enthralled by their child-like enthusiasm for all things cinema. I can't embed the reviews, but here are links to some reviews I particularly enjoyed. Watch a few, reminisce, and go to their website and pull up a few of your favorites. Until then...the balcony is closed.

(Two thumbs up...and Siskel's pronunciation of "Frank Darabont" is adorable)

(A mixed review....Ebert has it out for the dumb LAPD!)

(Raves for Holly Hunter!)

(Two thumbs down...for one of my favorite comedies!)

(My all time favorite movie...and nice words for young Max Pomeranc!)

(High praise for Tarantino's originality!)

(Lots of disdain for the ridiculous premise!)

(Cameron's directors cut...and praise for Laser Discs!)

(Ebert loves the weird supporting characters...and adores "Wally" Shawn!)

(Product placement be damned!)

(Boy...why must submarines be so ugly?)

(Praise all around for Kevin Kline and co!)

(A nice review for Eastwood's underrated gem, with some great thoughts on "what is violence")

(A diamond in the body-switching rough!)

Oh, and twitter friends--follow Roger Ebert! (@ebertchicago), and At the Movies (@atthemoviestv)!

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Now available! RiffTrax Presents POLTERGEIST with Janet Varney and ME!


NOW AVAILABLE!


Click here to check it out!

pol·ter·geist [ pølter geíst ] (plural pol·ter·geists) [Mid-19th century <>

Definition:

1) noisy spirit: a supposed supernatural spirit that reveals its presence by creating disturbances, e.g. by knocking over objects

2) 1982 Tobe Hooper-directed/Steven Spielberg-produced supernatural tale in which the Freeling Family deals with some seriously messed up/crappily-rendered spirits that ghost-nap their young daughter Carol Anne, who communicates with them through a television set (unlike text messaging, which is all the rage with the kids nowadays). A pre-Coach Craig T. Nelson and a pre-, um, Poltergeist JoBeth Williams star alongside Beatrice “I got an Oscar for a 5-min and 40 second performance” Straight, a creepy bedside clown, a ravenous tree, buckets and buckets of Star Wars product placement, and everyone’s favorite lil’ clairvoyant, Zelda Rubinstein. Running towards the light to provide RiffTrax commentary are Janet Varney and Cole Stratton, who previously underwhelmed you with their RiffTrax Presents of Dirty Dancing, Ghost and Footloose. We promise it will be more entertaining than The Bounty Hunter (since everything is). Which dictionary did this definition come out of, anyway? Am I right, people?

Please DOWNLOAD the newly available track and leave some comments here or on the RiffTrax message board! Hope you enjoy it!

Wednesday, April 14, 2010

Maggots, Michael! You're eating maggots!


I've never been much of a fan of horror movies, but as a teenager I had a serious obsession with the Joel Schumacher vampire flick The Lost Boys. It was one of those beautiful mash-ups of a movie--combining dark humor, schlocky effects, eye-catching cinematography, a hip young cast, and a killer soundtrack (Echo and the Bunnymen covering The Doors, two INXS tracks, Roger Daltrey, Mummy Calls, Lou Gramm, and Tim Cappello, best remembered shirtless, with long greasy hair, wearing a snake and wailin' on a saxophone).

One track in particular really set the mood for the piece, playing over the opening titles, which streamed over a helicopter shot of the moon-soaked ocean, eventually settling on the Santa Carla (aka Santa Cruz) Boardwalk and Kiefer's motley crew of vamps. That song was Gerard McMann's Cry Little Sister (Theme From The Lost Boys).

Here, as a tribute to Michael, Star, David, Lucy, the Frog Brothers, Thorn the Helldog, cranky ol' grandpa, and Sam (RIP, Corey!) is my all-vocal cover of the track. Press play--and try not to have a death by stereo!

CRY LITTLE SISTER (THEME FROM THE LOST BOYS)
(VOCAL COVER BY COLE STRATTON)

Wednesday, April 7, 2010

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 04: Bobby Campo!


Now available!

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 04: Bobby Campo

Cole, Vanessa, and the dream captain of Vanessa’s heart Bobby Campo (“Final Destination,” “Legally Blondes,” Vanessa’s Fantasies…) talk comics, horror movies, Teen Witch, more Teen Witch, Sookie’s Sexuality, Snow Caps, cougars, Lollapalooza, humiliating blue cat mascot outfits, Risk, and much more…and they did it all while trying to talk through the incredibly thick sexual tension that filled the room.

LISTEN on the official podcast website
and
SUBSCRIBE

If you like what you hear, PLEASE rate it and comment on it on iTunes and help us get featured!

Friday, March 26, 2010

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 03: Deanna Russo!

Now available!
Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 03: Deanna Russo

Cole, Vanessa and lovely, lovely, lovely guest Deanna Russo (“Knight Rider,” “Gossip Girl”) talk terrariums, Jesse James, Brotherhoodies, Cloris Leachman, fan K.I.T.T. creations, Carlton Cuse, the night of 140 Tweets, Breaking Bad, @ signs, making eye contact with Richard Simmons, horse appendages, verbal nodding, sounding smart, and Cole’s ridiculously literal t-shirt.

LISTEN
on the official podcast website at
and
SUBSCRIBE

...and if you like what you hear, please leave a comment and rate it on iTunes, and/or leave a comment on the website. Thanks!

Wednesday, March 24, 2010

That's Celebutainment! Part IV!

What's new in the world of fake celebrity gossip? Read and find out!*

GERARD BUTLER TO STAR IN EVERY MOVIE FROM NOW ON
Continuing a trend in multiplexes as of late, soccer hooligan/actor Gerard Butler will, from now on, have a starring role in every movie produced, everywhere. "I'm really lookin' forward to being everywhere ya look, laddie!" said Butler, pounding a Guinness and punching some guy in the face. Butler has asked that every script include a role for him in which a smart, career-oriented gal gives up everything to be with him.

QUENTIN TARANTINO TO EXCITEDLY SUGGEST YOU WATCH A FUCKIN' OBSCURE MOVIE
Hyper film-director/indie video store clerk Quentin Tarantino is in talks to corner you and talk up some films no one has any interest in. "Awwww, man, it's fuckin' amazing," will say Tarantino, "It's this Italian blaxploitation/grindhouse/neo-noir western. It's four hours, but, man, you will not be disappointed. Oh, and it's only on BetaMax, and you have to import it from Brazil." Tarantino also plans to wave his arms a lot, and wear a Kangol cap.

SPENCER PRATT TO BUY CASE OF ED HARDY WINE
Because he would, right?

KRISTEN STEWART ACCIDENTALLY SMILES, RUINS IMAGE
Twilight's Bella Swan, Kristen Stewart, was spotted smiling on a roller coaster at Disney's California Adventure Thursday afternoon. Clearly embarrassed, Stewart tried to compensate while exiting the ride, frowning and shouting "This is BULLSHIT, man. Just tired, useless, BULLSHIT." Stewart apologized to her "fans" and promised to "keep a shitty attitude from now on."


SILVERLAKE HIPSTERS ALREADY HATE NEW MGMT ALBUM
With the release of the sophomore album from indie music darlings MGMT less than a month away, ironic-mustached silverlake hipsters are already "over" them. Says one: "MGMT? Whatever. I was into them, like, five years ago, when I saw them open for No Age and they hadn't recorded anything yet." The hipsters plan on getting into some new shoegaze meets noise band that wear bandannas, but will secretly listen to Michael McDonald in their cars.

JOHN GLENN TO AUDITION FOR SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE
Jealous of fellow astronaut Buzz Aldrin's selection for the ABC dance staple Dancing With the Stars, American hero John Glenn has announced plans to audition for Fox's reality competition So You Think You Can Dance. "Man, I've walked on the moon, but I've never been on the Hot Tamale Train!" said Glenn, practicing the infamous park bench contemporary routine by Mia Michaels. Glenn also plans to work out a routine with perennial auditioner Sex.

GIZMO TIRED OF LIVING IN A BOX
Gizmo, adorable star of the two successful horror-comedies Gremlins, has grown tired of his less-than-glamorous accommodations. "Me no happy. Me want to moooooove," said Gizmo, at a press conference last Wednesday. In a related story, Gizmo was killed that same afternoon by all the paparazzi flash bulbs.

NICK NOLTE EATS OWN HAND
Haggard actor Nick Nolte accidentally gnawed off his own right hand Tuesday night, when he was eating a double double from In-N-Out and watching television. "I, uh, I was watchin' Jeopardy, and I was caught up in the Broadway Potpourri category, and I looked down and, boy, was my face red," said Nolte, cutting a hole in the wall of his bedroom so he "didn't have to walk as far to get to the bathroom."

MR. PEANUT ADMITS MONOCLE IS UNNECESSARY
Salty Planters spokesman Mr. Peanut revealed in an exclusive TMZ interview Friday that his iconic eye wear is just cosmetic. "Look, I'm a walking, talking peanut. My whole get-up is weird. Planters dress me like I'm in some sort of Fosse musical. My vision is fine. For a peanut, that is," he said. He also admitted that he's been trying to earn a medical degree, and is a few years away from becoming Dr. Peanut.

LADY GAGA TO TRY WEARING BUSINESS CASUAL
Pop princess and notorious fashion trendsetter Lady Gaga is toying with wearing something "regular, you know, like a pant suit" when she guests on Leno next week. "I mean, I'm not gonna waste some cool, weird new outfit on Jay fuckin' Leno," said Gaga, sipping from a giant waterslide-shaped straw coming out of a Cookie-Monster headdress.

JUSTIN BIEBER IN CRITICAL CONDITION AFTER TRENDING NEARLY TO DEATH
Teen hearthrob/"musician" Justin Bieber is one lucky lil' moptop after just surviving a slew of @mentions and hashtags on abused social-what-are-you-doing website Twitter. "I like, logged on, to, you know, just like, see whazzup, you know, and like, 140 characters times a billion tumbled onto me," said Bieber, making a kissy face and posing for a non-existent camera. "If it wasn't for #hottubtimemachine, I'd be dead right now."


MARY ELIZABETH MASTRANTONIO WONDERS WHERE THE HELL SHE'S BEEN, TOO
Once-beloved actress Mary Elizabeth Mastrantonio, star of successful 90's fare like Robin Hood: Prince of Thieves and The Abyss, posted a query on Google answers last Wednesday, asking "Hey, what have I been up to? Have I been in anything lately? Seriously!" Mastrantonio was surprised to discover that she'd done nine episodes of Without A Trace semi-recently, and vowed to be available "in case they ever do a sequel to The January Man."

*none of this is real, just fun. So relax, celebrities!

Thursday, March 18, 2010

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 02: Janet Varney!



NOW AVAILABLE!

Pop My Culture Podcast Ep 02: Janet Varney

Cole, Vanessa and special guest Janet Varney (“Dinner and a Movie,” “Entourage”) talk Corey Haim, celebrity crushes, the biosphere, shirtless saxophone solos, Dan Fielding’s wardrobe, Little Man Tate, and Andie MacDowell’s “acting.”

LISTEN on our official website, www.popmyculturepodcast.com
and
SUBSCRIBE on iTunes!

Monday, March 8, 2010

The wonderful, weird world of Japanese advertising!


Ah, advertising!

Can't you see that I am serious!?

I often think fondly on the Mr. Sparkle episode of the Simpsons--when it comes to bizarre, strange, "burned into your retinas so you see them even while your eyes are closed" advertising, nobody does it better than the Japanese! Here is a collection of odd, memorable spots from Japan (and one from Thailand, I believe, starting things off). Enjoy(?)!

Damn funny Sylvania light commercial...

The doll-headed dog shot does it for me...

It's not a tuuumah...it's Ahnold in Japan!

I feel like this ad would be good for hypnosis...

All you Hulkamaniacs sing along!

This one is pretty ingenious...

...and I thought I was the only one with a diapered elephant friend!

Finally, a way to deal with those pesky track and field monkeys!

If I had a dime for every time this has happened to me...

I'm never gonna dance again...'cuz I viewed this weird Wham video...

Wednesday, March 3, 2010

Introducing the Pop My Culture Podcast!


VERY excited to announce the launch of my newest project...

Pop My Culture Podcast

Pop My Culture is a bi-weekly podcast hosted by comedic actors and improvisers Cole Stratton and Vanessa Ragland. Join these two entertainment nerds and their special guests as they discuss movies, music, television, celebrity gossip, etc. without all those pesky “serious”
topics like politics, religion and the environment. I mean, you can tune into Fresh Air for that. We’ll just tackle the trivial watercooler stuff, ok?

Now available:
Pop My Culture Ep 01: Samm Levine

Cole, Vanessa and special guest Samm Levine (“Freaks and Geeks,” “Inglourious Basterds”) talk Oscars, unobtainium, dancing Buzz Aldrin, measurement beans, Paris rooftops and Vanessa’s unhealthy obsession with Zac Efron.

LISTEN to the podcast and check out some great promo pics on the official podcast website: www.popmyculturepodcast.com
and
SUBSCRIBE on iTunes (It's Free!...the first episode might not be listed, but if you subscribe it will download it with your iTunes podcasts!). Check it here: iTunes




Friday, February 26, 2010

Girls Just Want to Have Fun...by listening to this!


Thanks to HBO's constant streaming of the '80s teen dance classic
Girls Just Want To Have Fun, I've always had a soft-spot in my heart for SJP and her dream to be on Dance TV. My cousin, Casey, and I would watch the thing over and over again--I could probably quote most of it if my life depended on it (which would be a weird thing for your life to depend on--when was the last time anyone was asked to rattle off Jonathan Silverman's dialogue at gunpoint?)

The film sports one of the best soundtracks of that decade--an extremely hard one to hunt down, btw. I took it upon myself (believe me, this is totally self-inflicted!) to record a cover of my favorite tune from the flick--Q-Feel's "Dancin' In Heaven (Orbital Be-Bop)." And since I can't actually play any instruments (which I plan to remedy this year with guitar lessons), I recorded the whole thing using vocals only. So...what it lacks in technical ability it more than makes up for in heart, much like Janey Glenn herself! Click...and "enjoy."

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Wha...I'm the lead character in a romance novel!


My parents were nice enough to give me a good, unique name when I was born--there are a few Cole Strattons out there, but not a ton. There's a snowboarder in Colorado; a Daly City Firefighter; me--and now I'm a lead character in a romance novel by Susan Vaughan!

From Ms. Vaughan's website, the plot of Guarding Laura:

"Guarding Laura is the story of two former lovers who are the last people each wants to see. After witnessing a murder, museum curator Laura Rossiter hides under an assumed name at a Maine lake resort. Because the killer has terrorist connections, government officer Cole Stratton becomes her protector. Together they must trap a dangerous killer. How can Cole pretend to be the new lover of the woman who once broke his heart and left him to rot in jail? Laura must guard her resentment against him and the secret in her heart, but how can she when he's guarding her 24/7?"

I gotta pick up a copy...

May I suggest some further adventures for government officer Cole Stratton?

Protecting Penelope

"Disgraced government officer Cole Stratton takes refuge in Los Angeles after the woman he had sworn to protect was murdered under his watch. A slave to the bottle and painkillers, Cole scrapes by taking various one-off bodyguard jobs. When pseudo-famous actress Penelope Ann Miller becomes the target of an obsessed fan, Cole is hesitant to take the job--especially since he really hated The Gun in Betty Lou's Handbag. But as the two become close over a screening of Big Top Pee Wee, Cole realizes that there's more to Penelope than he bargained for--will his new found feelings cloud his judgment so much that he fails her when she needs him most?"

Bodyguarding Bernie

"The last thing corporate embezzler and womanizer Bernie Lomax expected one fateful weekend was to be murdered--but that wasn't going to stop him from partying. Government official Cole Stratton had inherited a series of ropes and pulleys from his late uncle, and was just trying to unload them on Craigslist when he was faced with an interesting proposition--help two schlubs make Bernie the life of the party for one weekend only for some quick, hard cash. But as Cole and Bernie become close over a screening of Big Top Pee Wee, Cole realizes that there's more to Bernie than he bargained for--will his new found feelings cloud his judgment so much that he fails him when he needs him most?"

Safeguarding Susan

"Government official Cole Stratton didn't realize what he was getting himself into that fateful day when he accidentally traveled through time in a customized Toyota Celica to 1869, and found himself at a National Women's Suffrage Association meeting. The target of a change-fearing sociopath, young Susan B. Anthony found herself fighting not only for the right to vote, but the right to stay alive. Stuck in the past, Cole agrees to protect her. After a discussion about the upcoming invention of film and the description of Big Top Pee Wee, Cole realizes there's more to Susan than he bargained for--will his new found feelings cloud his judgment so much that he fails her when she needs him most?"

Get to it, writers!

Thursday, February 18, 2010

Arbor Day: The Movie (attention Hollywood!)


With the success of the star-studded, mindless romcom Valentine's Day, might I pitch to you, almighty Hollywood, your next smash-hit? It puts VD's cast to shame! Check it out!

ARBOR DAY

The lives of many are turned-upside down on one very special Arbor Day...

Seattle, Washington (played by Vancouver, BC). A ruthless developer (Robert Duvall) and his two sons, Phil (Vince Vaughn) and Tommy (Jon Favreau) are moments away from chopping down several acres of forest to make way for a new vacation lodge. Phil's long-suffering girlfriend, Denise (Jessica Alba) is tired of his promises to settle down, and Tommy's wife, Veronica (Sarah Wynter) is frustrated by Tommy's blind devotion to his bully of a father. The owners of the to-be developed acreage, Gary and Shawnee (Tim Robbins and Sally Jesse Raphael) are so far behind on property taxes that they are forced to sell the land, and are unsure of their future. Add to the mix Gary's drunk of a father (NFL great Terry Bradshaw) and his kids from a previous marriage (Eddie Murphy, in multiple roles), and Gary's up against a wall. Fighting against the developer is a gang of woodland creatures, trying to save their home. They are led by a time-traveling otter (voiced by Will Arnett) who can't figure out how to get back to his Monterey Bay water home. There's a manic-depressive squirrel (Pauly Shore), a sassy owl (critic Pauline Kael), twin wiener dogs (Olympian Michael Phelps and musician Randy Newman), a wily fox (Matthew Lesko, the guy in the question-mark suit) and a big ol' grizzly bear (Shohreh Aghdashloo). With the help of Robert Twofeathers (Graham Greene), a wise Native American, the animals are ready to hold their own against the oncoming bulldozers. Meanwhile, the Lorax (Huey Lewis), official spokesman for the trees, pleads his case to a sympathetic official at City Hall (played by Daniel Day Lewis), who appeals to the planning commissioner (the Hamburgler), a flawed man with skeletons of his own. The commissioner sends in a band of environmental activists (Eddie Deezen, Dick Van Patten, Edward Furlong and Sigourney Weaver's Na'vi Avatar) to see if they can change the developer's mind. A local band, Freelance Bass (played by musicians Chris Cornell, Kelis, and two of the Presidents of the United States of America), decide to stage a fund-raising concert to save the land. A wealthy philanthropist (George Clooney), in town to visit his ex-wife (Sheena Easton), catches a few minutes of the band's set and is intrigued. As he crosses to compliment them, he is hit by a bus driven by haggard old Mr. Pryor (Sam Elliot). Shocked, the bus comes to a stop, and the passengers (Lisa Ling, Stephen Furst, Ronaldo, Terri Hatcher, Ray Park, Grape Ape, Timothy Busfield, Wiley Wiggins, Ms. Pac-Man, Harriet Tubman, Dustin Diamond, Brian Cranston, Mo Gaffney, Darryl Strawberry, Stephen Fry, Garth Brooks, Don Quixote, Loren Dean, Shannyn Sossamon, Berry Gordy, Catfish Hunter, Christopher McDonald, Mia Hamm, Geraldo Rivera, Winn-Dixie and The Goo-Goo Dolls) all rush to his aid. Is it too late to save the forest, on Arbor Day? Only one man knows...Zeus (Ian Ziering), has been watching from the heavens, unsure if he will intervene or not. His daughter, Athena (Markie Post) urges him to take action, while his son, Ares (Stephen J. Cannell), advises him to let it play out. Will all of these story lines come together in a satisfying way? You'll have to see it to find out!

Produced by Scott Rudin and the estate of F. Scott Fitzgerald. Written by Studs Terkel, based on the graphic novel by Aaron Sorkin and Arthur Ashe. Directed by Emilio Estevez. Music by Tangerine Dream featuring 50-Cent and Simon Lebon.

Make it happen, movie factories!

Monday, February 15, 2010

Weird Album Cover Art V: Assignment Miami Beach

Time for more terrible, disturbing, weird, awful, FANTASTIC album cover art!

Yeah, we doin' thangs...like hibernating, mutha f@#%&!

No, grandma, I don't know where your doilies went...

OH GOD! IT'S THE KRAKEN! AND HE'S BLOND!

I was wondering who fathered the Blue Man Group...

Come backpacking with us! Si...you will return alive...er...

So I found these punk songs in the Crystal Cave. They attacked me, so I broke their arms backward. No good tunes had it comin'.

Hey guys! I've got it! You know how I've always said rock n' roll is an axe-wielding gibbon-headed sumo wrestler atop a hill of skulls avoiding low-flying aircraft? Have I got a sketch for you!

All I need is this ashtray, and this paddle ball, and my dog...it's all I need...

Hey you punk kids! This is my album cover! Stop testing your felt-tipped markers on it!

Yeah, you know where this flute is goin'...

E.T. might mean exercising together, but you need to be extra-terrestrial to float like that.

I doubt he'll seymour record sales...

Full title is "Lady's Fancy A Barf Bag."

It's Israel's best improv/prop-comic trio! Comedy Central is gonna put them on it to fill the void left by the Jeff Dunham "show."

No, but you can borrow scissors, a razor and some sleeves...

Yep, nothin' gets the ladies in the mood better than a tightly sung rendition of "Lyda Rose."

Unfortunately, Little David Wilkins ate all the remaining copies of his debut album.

From How Da Grinch Stole Crizz-nas by DJ Sooz!

I'm pretty sure that kid is signing "Please send help."

A fascinating world full of lap-sitting and gift-wishing.


VERY controversial campaign poster for Barbara Boxer.