GOODBYE MR. HOOPER.....

As much as I like the first NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD film, it wasn't enough to make me love George Romero's work. His films NEVER made a big impact on me. It was different with Tobe Hooper.

I feel genuinely sad about his passing.

Most of Tobe Hooper's work genuinely appealed to me, I can't say the same about George Romero's films.



I don't think many people know he directed an episode of THE EQUALIZER.



The episode is called NO PLACE LIKE HOME, and it's one of my favorites.



Michael Rooker is in this episode, and he does NOT play a psycho... ha-ha-ha.



Another thing people don't associate Mr. Hooper with, are music videos.

He directed the DANCING WITH MYSELF music video ( starring Billy Idol ).



If you're wondering, YES, I liked LIFEFORCE.



I loved TEXAS CHAINSAW MASSACRE far more than I ever liked NIGHT OF THE LIVING DEAD.

The chainsaw characters frighten me far more than those slow moving zombies.

I also loved THE FUNHOUSE ( starring cutie Elizabeth Berridge ). It's one of my favorite films from the eighties.

In my opinion, he did not deserve the bullshit he experienced with Mr. Spielberg while making POLTERGEIST.

That's all I have to say.....

THIS AND THAT - AUGUST 2017 ( part 2 of 2 )

Screengrabs from PIRANHA 3DD trailer

INSOMNIA SUCKS.....

I've been doing a lot of late night channel surfing during the past month. I recently stumbled across PIRANHA 3DD, THE PURGE, and WORLD WAR Z. They all aired on my local TELEMUNDO affiliate.

PIRANHA 3DD - I couldn't stop watching this movie. Even in censored form, I thought it was disgustingly hilarious. NOT all the fish are CGI.

David Hasselhoff was fucking funny.

Christopher Lloyd plays a scientist, and he's also fun to watch.

Plus, the uncut version has a lot of female nudity - that's frosting on the cake!

THE PURGE - I enjoyed this flick far more than I thought I would.

WORLD WAR Z - I had a lot of mixed feelings about this movie. I can't tell you if I liked it, because I fell asleep soon after it started. So, I owe the filmmakers a big THANK YOU!... ha-ha-ha...

THIS TV played THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN. A great film that's still relevant, because espionage never goes out of style.

It's based on true events involving Christopher John Boyce and Andrew Daulton Lee.

It stars, Timothy Hutton, Sean Penn, and a few other familiar faces.

I think THE FALCON AND THE SNOWMAN is underrated.



I also watched SHAMPOO on THIS TV. It's one of my youthful favorites.

FYI - As a kid, the only theater my friends and I were denied entry to, was playing FLESH GORDON - and also most of the adult theaters.

I adored Goldie Hawn when I was young.

I felt sorry for Warren Beatty's character. He wasn't a bad guy, I believed his character loved part of every woman he was with.


Screengrabs above from VOYAGE INTO SPACE ( TV movie patched together from episodes of JOHNNY SOKKO AND HIS FLYING ROBOT )... It aired on COMET TV and it's website.

A reminder, if you don't have a COMET TV affiliate in your area, you can watch their channel on the COMET TV website for free. I've been watching a lot of older horror and sci-fi flicks on their webstie. It's NOT the best way to watch movies, but at least it's FREE!



BIG BANG THEORY UNAIRED PILOT & COUNTERFEIT.....

I've always been interested in what could have been, in regards to original casting choices in fllms and shows.

The unaired BIG BANG THEORY pilot is substantially different from the final product. In fact, a few parts seemed better suited to MARRIED WITH CHILDREN than the BIG BANG THEORY.

It wasn't just cast members that were changed. A lot of the dialogue and the setting were also replaced.

The unaired pilot is incredibly sterile, and there is absolutely NO chemistry between the two female leads and the two male cast members. Yes, there were only four main characters.


Screengrabs from the unaired BIG BANG THEORY pilot ( YOUTUBE video ).

Johnny Galecki and Jim Parsons, are the only two main cast members to appear in both versions of the pilot.

FYI - Vernee Watson's character also remained the same.



Iris Bahr played Gilda ( a female version of howard? ), and Amanda Walsh played Katie ( an alternative universe version of Penny ).

Obviously, those two actresses didn't make it to the final pilot, and that's a good thing - for the reasons I've already stated.


Screengrabs above from THE THEORISTS.

In regards to alternative universes, I also watched the COUNTERFEIT version of the BIG BANG THEORY.

It's called THE THEORISTS, and it's from Belarus.

The episode I watched had a very strange vibe to it.

I didn't need a translator, to know the humor didn't work. Everything about it seemed forced and artificially cute. Know what I mean?



JUNE FORAY.....

Ms. Foray passed away in late July. You may not know her name, but you've probably heard her voice more times than you can imagine.


Screengrabs above from GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE.

Think about the countless millions that have grown up listening to her voice.


Screengrabs above from the TWILIGHT ZONE ( episode called LIVING DOLL ) ... Did I ever mention how much I hate dolls?

I mostly remember Ms. Foray for her work on the TWILIGHT ZONE, ROCKY AND BULLWINKLE, and GEORGE OF THE JUNGLE ( I still remember the theme song to this show ).



WHAT A NIGHTMARISH WEEK!... FUCK!

I feel like my head is going to explode!

It's bad enough we all have personal bullshit to deal with, but then, the TWO BIGGEST LUNATICS ON EARTH threaten to kill all of humanity!

A short time later, NAZI-TRUMP threatens to invade Venezuela.

Then one of NAZI-TRUMP's best buddies, David Duke and his associates, decide to cause death and destruction!

QUTOES BELOW FROM THE WASHINGTON POST ( Aug. 12, 2017 )...

"Former Ku Klux Klan leader David Duke, a Trump supporter who was in Charlottesville on Saturday, quickly replied. “I would recommend you take a good look in the mirror & remember it was White Americans who put you in the presidency, not radical leftists,” he wrote"

"Asked by a reporter in New Jersey whether he wanted the support of white nationalists, dozens of whom wore red Make America Great Again hats during the Charlottesville riots, Trump did not respond."

The GOP is the FOURTH REICH by another name, and TRUMP is their pride and joy ( supremacist groups gave generously to the GOP during the 2016 campaign season ).



QUOTES below are by John Oliver...

"A non answer in a moment like this, is an answer"

"Nazis are a lot like cats. If they like you, it's probably because you're feeding them"

As I've said countless times before, THE ONLY GOOD NAZI IS A DEAD NAZI!

For those of you that don't know what it's like to have to constantly look over your shoulder, it's not pleasant.

It's time to cancel this "reality show" folks.....

THIS AND THAT - AUGUST 2017 ( part 1 of 2 )

WHAT HAPPENED TO ECHO BRIDGE?.....

Haven't seen any new ECHO BRIDGE releases at WALMART or TARGET?... Well, you're not the only one to notice that.

According to VARIETY's website, ECHO BRIDGE has a new owner.

Quotes below are from VARIETY.com ( by Dave McNary - January 11, 2017 ).....

"Veteran independent producer Steven Paul has acquired distributor Echo Bridge Acquisition Corp. for an undisclosed price, Variety has learned exclusively"

"Paul is one of the producers on the upcoming “Ghost in the Shell” with Scarlett Johansson and has credits on both “Ghost Rider” movies"

I haven't been able to find any more information, so I don't know if they're going to continue releasing DVDs.



As for MILL CREEK, ever since they struck a deal with SONY, their prices have gone up - that shouldn't be a surprise.

I still wait for price drops before I purchase their discs, that has NOT changed for me.

I love it when 'bargain video' companies release rare, or never been on region one DVD titles.



PODCASTS.....

Below is a VERY SHORT list of recommended podcasts ( in random order ).



1 - This American Life..... I've been listening to this radio show / podcast since it started.

It really is a documentary for the ears.

You'll either love or hate the people in the stories, but you'll seldom - if ever - feel apathetic.

THIS AMERICAN LIFE PODCAST



2 - Rialto Report.... The RIALTO REPORT is much more than just a podcast about the classic era of adult / sexploitation films.

Their website also contains articles and photos.

The stories they tell will make you feel every emotion possible.

You'll discover all the connections between classic era adult films and the so-called 'mainstream' studio system, television, broadway, the music industry, and more.

RIALTO REPORT PODCAST



3 - Hollywood & Levine..... This is a fun podcast.

Most of the content is personal, and that's one of the reasons I like it.

It was created by a man named Ken Levine. He's a writer, director, and producer!

HOLLYWOOD & LEVINE PODCAST




4 - Mr. Skin..... I didn't know if I should include this podcast... Anyway, I used to like the MR. SKIN website, but I stopped visiting it years ago for a lot of reasons.

In my opinion, their PODCAST is better than their website. Having said that, I have problems with the two hosts, especially when they state their OPINIONS as fact.

What part of "beauty is in the eye of the beholder" don't they understand? In addition, movies and shows, are MORE than just scenes that contain nudity.

MR. SKIN PODCAST


Screengrab on top is of Christina Ricci in Z: THE BEGINNING OF EVERYTHING ( WEB series from AMAZON )... Screengrab on bottom is of Alison Brie - left side - from GLOW ( WEB series from NETFLIX ).

FAST TIMES AT RIDGEMONT HIGH, would still be remembered and still have a following without the Phoebe Cates topless scene and without her! Any actress could have performed that scene and portrayed her character - it wasn't rocket science!

Let me remind all the superficial shitheads of the obvious, beauty isn't just physical. If you're over eighteen years of age and still don't understand that, then I feel sorry for you.


Screengrabs from a VOLKSWAGEN commercial for the 2018 TIGUAN ( YOUTUBE video ).

IT'S A LIVIN' THING.....

I saw a new VOLKSWAGEN commercial and I absolutely loved it.

It shows an inflatable KING KONG following a cute lady, while she's driving a 2018 VW TIGUAN.


Screengrab of ELO performing LIVIN' THING ( 1977 - YOUTUBE video ).

The song LIVIN' THING by ELO is played during the entire commercial.


Screengrabs from a seventies tv commercial for the VW 411 ( YOUTUBE video ).

This isn't the first time VW has used KING KONG in a tv commercial. I still remember their 411 sedan commercial from the seventies.

There aren't very many new tv commercials that stay in my memory, but this TIGUAN ad does... and I mean that in a GOOD WAY!



KEVIN CAN WAIT, AND WAIT, AND WAIT....

Attention!... If you've never seen a tv show called KEVIN CAN WAIT, consider yourself lucky. This show is even more flatulent than Kevin's enormous anus.

Yes sir, KEVIN can wait all he wants, but I'm still NOT going to watch this show again!

The actress that portrayed Kevin's wife was FIRED, and CBS is BULLSHITING EVERYONE by saying she left.

If you've ever encountered Mr. James on the street you know he's as pleasant as simultaneous bee stings to both eyes, and a kick in the throat.


Screengrabs from LANA DEL REY's music video called LOVE ( YOUTUBE video )... I'm crazy about this woman's voice, and I absolutely love listening to her!

SOOTHING YOUR SOUL.....

Feeling anxious?

Feeling frustrated?

Got an uneasy and queasy feeling in your belly?

Well, most of humanity is feeling the same way. As I've said before, we all have our own ways of relaxing.


Screengrabs from LANA DEL REY's music video called BORN TO DIE ( YOUTUBE video ).

LANA DEL REY ( official website )



Screengrab of Klaus Schulze during a concert in 1977 ( YOUTUBE video ).

KLAUS SCHULZE ( official website )

One way I relax, is by listening to a couple of radio shows on my local NPR station. One is called ECHOES, and the other is called HEARTS OF SPACE. Both of these shows calm my nerves. I just put my headphones on and escape.....

SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON 2017 - THE ONLY POP-CULTURE EVENT I STILL CARE ABOUT.....

Photo above is copyright WARNER BROS... It's a bird's-eye view, showing the BIG BANG THEORY signing session at the WARNER BROS booth ( on Friday, July 21, 2017 ). Take a very good look at the size of that crowd.

I'm going to share some random thoughts about SAN DIEGO COMIC-CON.

The last time I attended SDCC was in 1990 ( I think that was BEFORE it moved to the convention center ).

I also want to remind people that SDCC is a NON profit convention. That's one of the many reasons I've never criticized this event.

During the seventies and eighties, it was NOT difficult - or expensive - to attend SDCC... Boy, have times changed!

If I had been lucky enough to have attended SDCC 2017, I would have appreciated every minute of it.

One of the first things I'd do, is pick up all the freebies I could get my hands on.

I also would have loved to have attended some of the autograph sessions. I would have been genuinely excited by that.


Screengrabs above are from the BIG BANG THEORY signing at the WARNER BROS booth ( source WARNER BROS FACEBOOK page ).

Let me get this off my chest, I'm sick and tired of hearing idiots rant about the movie and television aspects of SDCC. Regardless of what some folks say, those things have been part of SDCC since the early days.

Comics have had a showbiz connection since at least the thirties ( radio - serials - movies - tv shows - plays ).

It irritates me, when I hear RETARDS COMPLAINING about items that were given to them for FREE!... If you don't want it, DON'T TAKE IT!

I've seen far too many YOUTUBE trolls HAPPILY DESTROYING the items they were GIVEN. Those items include, posters, bags, books, comics, figures, and even AUTOGRAPHS! Let me say it again, if you don't like something, why the hell take it?!


Photo above shows various comic-con publications, hotel key cards for BIG BANG THEORY and WESTWORLD, a promo card for BLADE RUNNER 2049, and a WARNER BROS promo bag for the BIG BANG THEORY.

Every time some UNGRATEFUL DOUCHEBAG destroys, or disposes of items they got for FREE, another person that wanted that item, goes home empty-handed.


Screengrabs above are from the KANSAS micro-concert ( SUPERNATURAL panel )... source YOUTUBE.

I seldom have any interest in panels, and even less interest in spending RIDICULOUS amounts of time WAITING to attend them. Having said that, I would have made an exception for many panels at this year's comic-con. I would have loved to have attened the BIG BANG THEORY, TWIN PEAKS, WESTWORLD, BLADE RUNNER 2049, ATOMIC BLONDE, and SUPERNATURAL panels.

SUPERNATURAL'S panel actually had a live performance by seventies rock group KANSAS. I've seen several YOUTUBE videos, and it looks fantastic.


Free promotional posters for the BIG BANG THEORY, WESTWORLD, the PUNISHER, and the SIMPSONS ( Photos from EBAY )... I love things like this.

If you haven't already figured it out, most of the items people throw away, are the types of things I usually hang on to - such as, small posters, flyers, promo cards, post cards, bags, books, magazines, programs, and just about anything else.


Screengrabs above and below show some of the countless EBAY auctions of FREE items obtained at COMIC-CON. These types of souvenirs end up being sold for OBSCENE AMOUNTS of money. If, I was lucky enough to win a chance to obtain a FREE poster autographed by the cast - in front of me, I sure as hell would NOT be selling it!


A lot of folks resell exclusive merchandise for at least double what they paid for it, and I do NOT condemn them for doing that.

However, most of us know, that FAR TOO MANY professional flippers, professional autograph dealers, and greedy-parasites, always try to make money off of ANYTHING they got at SDCC for FREE!... And THAT DOES PISS ME OFF!

There are also people that attend events like this via 'press pass' for FREE, and far too many of them are NOT journalists!


Screengrabs above are from the BIG BANG THEORY panel ( source YOUTUBE ).

Whenever, I've gone to any event, the first think that goes through my mind, is gratitude that I'm lucky enough to be there.

It doesn't matter if I'm at a film festival, movie screening, auto show, or whatever, nothing goes to waste with me. Any duplicates, or items I don't like or want, goes to family members or someone else that will truly APPRECIATE those things.

Just for the record, I love taking photographs and videos when I'm at any public event ( I've always loved photography ).


Screengrabs above are from the TWIN PEAKS, WESTWORLD, and BLADE RUNNER 2049 panels ( source YOUTUBE ).

The main reasons I stopped attending 'pop-culture' events were, admission prices, the creation of V.I.P. passes, and the absurd behavior of many so-called 'celebrities' AND attendees. These types of events - EXCEPT for SDCC - are dead to me.....