JJ and his amazing friend Jason are back this week to cover a trifecta of pop culture Mars Needsy type topics, Movies, Music, and Theater! First, JJ reveals that there is a word in song that sets his teeth on edge, it is a place keeper and a sign of laziness. Harumph! Then Jason reveals he has seen a movie previously talked about and largely agrees with what has been said, but also was pleased with a factoid that JJ seemed fit not to speak of. Finally JJ went to see some friends in a production of King Lear, was he impressed or was he left out in the cold?

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!

Weird Al actually makes a good Harrison Ford.

I am proud to say on Saturday I went to see Raiders in IMAX for its one week release.  I also got a fancy poster to take home with me.

Don’t worry, the Blu Ray ad peels off.

Whenever I have the rare opportunity to see a beloved movie in theater, a couple thoughts run through my head. First, all the parodies I’ve seen through the years pop straight to mind. Second, and this runs concurrent with the parodies and references, I’m in utter awe of the fact that what I’m seeing is the original content, unsullied, from whence those parodies came. Seeing it on a big screen also has the advantage of letting you catch all the details that a television screen won’t let you see. For instance, every crevice in creepy guy’s burnt hand…

“Oh, this? Birthmark. Yup.”

…and the true frightening impact of witnessing so many snakes in one place.

“Oh look, my greatest fear. How convenient.”

In this way, seeing it on the big screen after years of watching it on a small TV affords you the chance to feel like you’re seeing it for the first time.

The funny part is, besides American Graffiti, Raiders and its sequels are the only George Lucas movies to remain untouched. The fear of this happening is at least enough that Steven Spielberg felt the need to point out that they didn’t change the visual effects. And really with a movie like this it is not needed, especially given its 30s serial adventure roots. Plus, I find there is a great charm in 80’s special effects that the invention of modern CG has snuffed out.

Before I went to see it today, I was talking with my friend. He mentioned the fact that Kevin Murphy (the puppeteer/voice of Servo on Mystery Science Theater) mentioned in his book A Year at the Movies (which I highly recommend) that he got to go into Raiders cold. Meaning, he attended a screening before the movie came out, armed with only the knowledge that it was a Steven Spielberg/George Lucas collaboration. I consider him very lucky.

It’s a good book about the theatergoing experience. I highly recommend.

Sad thing is, seeing as I was born five years after the movie came out, by the time I saw it every iconic moment had already permeated its way into popular culture. I have never, and will never, get that fresh viewing.  The absolute closest I can come is seeing it on a very big screen. So I urge everyone who can to go see it before it goes out tomorrow. That means you. Go! NOW!!

….still here? Okay, here’s a bonus clip of Belloq eating a fly.

JJ and his amazing friend Widgett Walls, of NeedCoffee.com join forces for the first time to have one mighty conversation. The pair start off by discussing Widgett’s recent tome, Something Else: The Complete Second Season and why it is amazing to get a single creative project finished…ever. The duo then compare theater stories until, finally Widgett and JJ shed light on a post apocalyptic that seems to be called forth by creating a brand of cheaply made electronics…

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!

JJ and his amazing friend Jason want you to get out of your seats. Move to the rhythm people! Jason shares his personal tale of how the best laid plans sometimes go awry. Then JJ wants to take some time to someone who had an impact on his life, Mr. Gil Cates. Sure, after the recording JJ found some stats that may have made his discussion with Jason more factual, but the sentiment is the same. For the record, Mr. Cates produced the Oscars a record 14 times as well as creating the “In Memoriam” segment. It also turns out that he is the UNCLE of one Ms. Phoebe Cates. These small details are silly, for what JJ remembers is a really nice guy with a passion for his work. The world is truly lessened by his absence.

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!

JJ and his amazing friend Ian both have had plays close recently. Rather than let the “Post-Show Ennui” settle in, the pair share stories of the two shows to help ease into the lack of evening activity. Tales are told of good nights and bad, and the relationship between the entertainer and the entertained are examined. Plus, at the end JJ asks a request of the listener, as he needs your help for a new project he wants to attempt.

Click here to listen!

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!

JJ and his amazing friend Jason…well…let’s look at it this way, Word Salad is defined as- a mixture of random words that, while arranged in phrases that appear to give them meaning, actually carry no significance. The words may or may not be grammatically correct, but the meaning is hopelessly confused. I don’t think it is actually that bad, but, boy is the conversation all over the place. Jason is introduced to the fine art of Fridays, and JJ goes into a long spiel about classical french theater. At least it all ends with porn, so all is well. Praise the maker.

Click here to listen!

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!

JJ and his amazing friend Scott C. from NeedCoffee.com sit for a second chat. After the two get past the usual small talk, they begin a conversation that starts with theater and ends with the singularity. It’s a no holds barred look into why the education system fails and why we should all have an easy secret place to take that special someone. The countdown to 100 is upon us folks, and we are racing there!

Thanks to NeedCoffee.com for loaning us Scott C.

Click here to listen!

Click here to download!

View the RSS feed!