First Look: Bernie

I've been excited about Bernie ever since I heard was involved: Matthew McConaughey, Jack Black, Shirley MacLaine, and Richard Linklater.

Today, posters from the film were released. And they're very cool:


Visit ComingSoon.net for much larger images
In case you haven't seen it yet, here's the trailer as well. Am I the only one who thinks this looks hilarious?

Triple Your Pleasure

I think we can all agree that Twins is obviously Arnold Schwarzenegger's greatest film accomplishment, am I right?

Entertainment Weekly just confirmed that a sequel, entitled Triplets, is currently in the works. The kicker? The third, heretofore missing son is slated to be played by... Eddie Murphy.

Arnie, Danny, and Eddie. Yes please.

Also from that EW article, did you know that Twins was Schwarzenegger's highest grossing comedy and one of the most successful films for both Danny DeVito and director Ivan Reitman? That's kind of insane.

I'd love to see Eddie Murphy get back into, you know, watchable adult comedy. Maybe he was good in that Tower Heist flick that just came out but this seems like a perfect Murphy reboot vehicle. Who's with me in thinking that this has potential to be really very funny, or possibly the worst thing put to film? I don't think there's a lot of middle ground here.

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The Psychedelic Furs, "Pretty In Pink"

From 1986, here's The Psychedelic Furs with "Pretty In Pink."

Enjoy!

Live Action Adventure Time

My daughter and I must've watched this 30,000 times yesterday.



The new season of Adventure Time starts Monday night at 7:30 PM. I've seen the first episode and it rocks.

Trent Reznor On Dance Party USA

Wow.

Are You Ready For Some More Ron Burgundy?

Ron Burgundy swung by CONAN to make a very special announcement.



I have to admit, Anchorman has grown on me after multiple viewings. I just hope he gets the whole news crew back together because Steve Carrell is freaking genius in that film.

You stay classy, Brats!

Boys Don't Cry, "I Wanna Be A Cowboy"

From 1986, here's Boys Don't Cry with "I Wanna Be A Cowboy."

Enjoy!

Seven Questions In Heaven With Electric Black Horse's Michael Pate

Today, we have future rock stars Electric Black Horse answering our Seven Questions In Heaven. What makes me think they'll become rock stars? They definitely have the chops, but so do a lot of other bands. But what sets them apart is attitude, that rock 'n' roll swagger. Need proof? Listen to Electric Black Horse front man Michael Pate:

Describe your music for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
A highly potent elixir of Sparkle and Balls that aims for heart and hips! Rock and roll in the grand tradition of genre. Engineered to unite the races and put smiles on faces!

Who are your musical influences and idols?
Personally, KISS was the very fist group that I was ever aware of loving and that affair goes on to this very day. I wear that influence very proudly. Let's add Aerosmith, Cheap Trick, the Rolling Stones, T. Rex, the Jimi Hendrix Experience, Van Halen, Vain, Stone Temple Pilots, and the Ramones. The common thread here is that all these groups had something else going on, whether it was a vibe, image, or energy that enhanced the music and didn't put it in the background. Songs. Image. Energy. In the non-rock category I do love Prince, Sly And The Family Stone, Nick Drake, Marvin Gaye, Sam Cooke, The Carpenters, Dusty Springfield, Frank Sinatra, and Tom Jones.

First Listen: The Cult, "For The Animals"

Damn. No mistaking Ian Astbury.

Holy Esque, "Rose"

From 2012, here's Holy Esque with "Rose."

Enjoy!

Superhero Chucks

DC Comics have teamed up with Converse for some pretty awesome shoes:

First Look/Listen: Belle And Sebastian, "Crash"

This version has nothing on The Primitives, but the video's still pretty cool:

First Look/Listen: Tenacious D, "To Be The Best"

Oh hell yeah!



(Val Kilmer looks better than he has in some time, no?)

Bryan Scary, "Ziegfield Station"

From 2012, here's Bryan Scary with "Ziegfield Station."

Enjoy!

Comics Review: The James Bond Omnibus Volume 003

Everyone has their favorite James Bond; most of us who grew up in the '70s and '80s are still divided over Sean Connery and Roger Moore.(Which is a ludicrous debate, of course: Connery, with his rough-and-tumble bare-knuckle brawling and Super Brow could wipe the floor with Moore.) The younger folk might remember Pierce Brosnan's respectable suavity in the '90s, and most seem to agree that Daniel Craig brought some fresh pathos and great abs to the role in the new century.

The consensus tends to be that our favorite Bond is the always one we saw first. As movie people, we sometimes forget that Bond started in, uh, books. But in addition to novels and films, Bond was also... a daily comic strip.

In fact, James Bond's comic strips debuted in 1957 in the UK newspaper The Daily Express, five years before the first Bond flick (Dr. No), and ran until early 1983.

Who knew?

In 1957, Ian Fleming gave his reportedly guarded blessing to The Daily Express, allowing them to transform his super spy into a daily comic. Who knows whether he was pleased with the result, but the strip ran for almost 30 years in England. Now, Bond fans on either side of the pond can read the long-running serial in three collected volumes, the latest of which just hit the shelves: The James Bond Omnibus: Volume 003.

I'm a fan of daily comics and I've always liked the constant cliffhangers of serial storytelling. Before newspapers went extinct, I remember following the long-running adventures of Spider-Man. (The musty soap operas Mary Worth and Rex Morgan, M.D.? Not so much.) So I cracked opened this collection, looking forward to reading the seven novel-ish stories included, with sensational titles like "River Of Death," "The Golden Ghost," and "Double Jeopardy." Fun stuff, yes? Each one a full cinematic tale, broken down and told in three-panel bites. And with everything collected omnibusily, I wouldn't have to wait a day between each strip.

Old Horror Movie Villains Never Die

...they just get really depressing.

In a stunning photography exhibit, Federico Chiesa reimagines some of our favorite villains as senior citizens. Here's Michael Myers:



And here are those creepy girls from The Shining:

My Second Surprise, "Bring The Sunshine"

From 2012, here's My Second Suprise with "Bring The Sunshine."

Enjoy!

First Look: Cosmopolis Is Here!

Oh yeah, baby.

Remember when I told you with deep sincerity that you needed to have one eye trained on the work of one David Cronenberg? Yeah, well the warning sirens just sounded and the trailer for his much anticipated Cosmopolis saw the light of day this week.

I thought for sure it would be months until we saw some sort of official teaser for this movie but in a divinely perverse twist, we got what we wanted before we even knew to ask for it. In what is perhaps the most brilliantly bizarre match up since cottage cheese met pinapple, the unlikely pairing of Robert Pattinson and Cronenberg appears to promise great things.

Frankly, all of you people need to strip yourselves of whatever expectations you might have for this film and just go on this sex and violence fueled romp across town in the limo without the baggage you usually carry into the theater. If you can just let go and trust David, it looks like you are in for one hell of a ride.

Here's the NSFW teaser trailer:

First Listen: Larry g(EE) Featuring Sherree Chamberlain, "Goodbye"

Cool! New music from Larry g(EE)!



Love it? Download it for free right here.

Eddie The Gun, "Kids"

From 2009, here's Eddie The Gun with "Kids."

Enjoy!

All Attractions: Our Interview With Camper Van Beethoven's Jonathan Segel

Jonathan Segel may be best known to some as the man who gets to play some of the most memorable violin parts in rock and roll, but he is an accomplished musician and composer in his own right with a catalog that extends far beyond his Camper Van Beethoven projects. Listening to his many and varied pursuits you'd be hard pressed to remember that only one man was responsible for them all.

On an unusually warm March afternoon, I sat on my front porch and talked to Camper Van Beethoven's co-founder and violin virtuoso about his many talents and his new musical offering, All Attractions.

Hey Jonathan how are you today?
Great, thank you. How are you?

Doing wonderful. I thought we could start out talking a little about the new album All Attractions. I listened to the songs quite a few times and I really like it.
Oh good, nice. Thank you!

I noticed that it's described as "guitar heavy" which while it's totally true, struck me as funny because you are hard to pin down musically.
Ha! Uh ha, true.

Did you feel like you needed to qualify to differentiate from the improvisational electronic music you've done?
Well also from the violin because in Camper Van Beethoven I played violin most of the time and that's mostly the reason for the differentiation. When people think of me as part of Camper Van Beethoven, they think of me as the violin player.

Weird, I always think of you as co-founder, although you do play a mean fiddle. Are you going to be touring to support the record?
Probably just a few local shows. I can't really afford to get musicians out on the road at this point.

I'm seeing quite a few acts taking it on the road solo these days. Solo acoustic or pared-down versions of the band. You are in California which sounds like us east coasters are going to be awfully sad missing out.
Maybe not, but it probably won't happen until next fall if you do see me!

First Look: Cake, "The Winter"

Why appear in your own video when you can give the spotlight to 171 of your fans?

Tanlines, "All Of Me"

From 2012, here's Tanlines with "All Of Me."

Enjoy!

Garbage Pail Kids Strike Back

I came across some horrifying news the other day. Michael Eisner, you know, the former CEO of Disney? Yeah that guy. He's working on bringing the Garbage Pail Kids back to life. In the form of a new movie. SERIOUSLY. If you didn't catch the 1987 movie, congratulate yourself. It's bad. I mean, really, really bad. Check out the trailer:



The movie is worse. I know this because my little brother was into the Garbage Pail Kids when we were young and I got dragged into watching this one night. I still haven't forgiven him.

Is there anyone in the world who's actually excited that the Garbage Pail Kids could be making a comeback? Anyone? Anyone? Didn't think so.

You Ready To Rock This Summer?

Kiss and Motley Crue are hitting the road together this summer in what will surely be a concert that's full of theatrics and hits.



I'm on board. But I have three slight problems with that tour graphic:

1. Is Paul wearing his Grandma's wig?
2. Why is Mick Mars channeling The Mad Hatter?
3. Given the fact that Gene Simmons is the master salesman, couldn't he or someone have come up with a better name for the tour than The Tour?

Ok, I'm done griping. Let's look at the tour dates:

The Spinto Band, "Take It"

Lately, I've been feeling a lot like the kid in the striped shirt.

From 2012, here's The Spinto Band with "Take It."

Enjoy!

Top 25 Albums Of 1987 (Nos. 1-5)

A few weeks back, a Brat bravely postulated that 1987 was the greatest year in the history of music. After the laughter died down, we took a closer look at the albums released twenty-five years ago and you know what?

He may very well be right.

See if he's correct. We compiled the twenty-five greatest albums from twenty-five years ago, 1987. Tell us what you think when you get down to #1. And let us know if you would've ordered them differently.

Here are Numbers 1-5:

5. Def Leppard, Hysteria

What can I say about Hysteria that I haven't already said at length in my tribute to it a couple weeks ago? But in the context of the year 1987, when you look at the glory of the rest of the albums that year, the achievement of this record is that much more impressive. There are so many "important" albums from 1987, seminal works that are touchstones for a generation and influences for later bands, and yet Hysteria stands shoulder-to-shoulder with all of them, awaiting for revisionist history to give pop-metal its due and rightly place Def Leppard and Hysteria in the pantheon of modern classics.--CroutonBoy

Top 25 Albums Of 1987 (Nos. 6-10)

A few weeks back, a Brat bravely postulated that 1987 was the greatest year in the history of music. After the laughter died down, we took a closer look at the albums released twenty-five years ago and you know what?

He may very well be right.

See if he's correct. We compiled the twenty-five greatest albums from twenty-five years ago, 1987. Tell us what you think when you get down to #1. And let us know if you would've ordered them differently.

Here are Numbers 6-10:

10. The Replacements, Pleased To Meet Me

This one is so very difficult for me to put into words because of all the things that happened to me while this record provided the soundtrack. I grew up and these songs came along for the ride on cassette and then on CD right afterward. Some of the Replacements' best work is here, a hugely ambitious album where the Replacements were hitting their stride and they never sounded more amazing. It marked their departure from punk rock roustabouts to big label musicians, a joke they make very plain in the lyrics for "I Don’t Know:" One foot in the door, the other one in the gutter.--Dufmanno

Top 25 Albums Of 1987 (Nos. 11-15)

A few weeks back, a Brat bravely postulated that 1987 was the greatest year in the history of music. After the laughter died down, we took a closer look at the albums released twenty-five years ago and you know what?

He may very well be right.

See if he's correct. We compiled the twenty-five greatest albums from twenty-five years ago, 1987. Tell us what you think when you get down to #1. And let us know if you would've ordered them differently.

Here are Numbers 11-15:

15. Whitney Houston, Whitney

Whitney Houston's Whitney was the singer's second album and avoided the dreaded "sophomore slump." It ended up being certified 9 times platinum and put Whitney in the top tier for female artists. It was the first album by a woman to debut at number one on the Billboard charts. In short, it made Whitney a superstar and if you say you you've never sung into your hairbrush and belted out "Where Do Broken Hearts Go," I'm pretty sure you're lying.--Archphoenix

Top 25 Albums Of 1987 (Nos. 16-20)

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Top 25 Albums Of 1987 (Nos. 21-25)

A few weeks back, a Brat bravely postulated that 1987 was the greatest year in the history of music. After the laughter died down, we took a closer look at the albums released twenty-five years ago and you know what?

He may very be correct.

See if he's correct. We compiled the twenty-five greatest albums from twenty-five years ago, 1987. Tell us what you think when you get down to #1. And let us know if you would've ordered them differently.

Here are Numbers 21-25:

25. 10,000 Maniacs, In My Tribe

I was too busy chasing the David Lee Roth/Poison tour to notice In My Tribe when it came out. My freshman roommate in college introduced me to it as an alternative to his endless supply of Grateful Dead bootlegs. But though I initially resisted its lack of electrical bombast, I found myself years later coming back to it time and again. Nathalie Merchant has a transcendent voice, not so much in her range or clarity, but in the way it evokes an emotion both celestial and earthly. If In My Tribe didn't create the Bohemian folk-pop strain of college music, it certainly solidified and popularized it, and to this day remains the high water mark of every Birkenstock wearer's record collection.--CroutonBoy

Turtles From Spaaaaaaaace!

News broke awhile ago that Michael Bay was looking to reboot the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles franchise. Well Bay talked about his plans for the franchise last week and the news is sure to set off fans of the turtles.

Why?

Instead of following the usual origin story (some turtles fell into some green mutagenic ooze), Bay is thinking that HIS turtles are actually... aliens.

So basically Transformers but green.

But how does that explain the talking rat? Is he an alien too?
Anyway, I am guessing this film will also have:

• giant explosions
• a really hot chick
• sparse plot

Any TMNT fans out there? How does a Bay-sian vision sound to you?

First Listen: Arcade Fire, "Sprawl II (Mountains Beyond Mountains) (Soulwax Remix)"

It takes sixty-four seconds for Régine Chassagne's voice to kick in, but it's worth the wait.



[source]

Wideboy Generation, "Sylvia"

From 2012, here's Wideboy Generation with "Sylvia."

Enjoy!

Bitchin' Ingredients: Our Interview with Nadia G

I don't cook, but if I did I'd want to do it in this kitchen! I caught up with the sassiest of the rock and roll cooking queens, Nadia G of Bitchin' Kitchen, shown on the Cooking Channel and Food Network Canada. We talked rock and roll, tattoos, and how comedy and cooking work like a dream. and she kept me in stitches while doing it. Seriously.

How are you doing today?
I'm good. I'm very good. We're actually wrapping our second season, so that's pretty exciting. We've been in production since May 2011, so it'll be good to wrap it up and throw a big party, and then I'm heading to SXSW. So lots of exciting things going on.

Oh, that's cool. So my first question is for our readers who might not be familiar with your show, which I love by the way... how would you describe Bitchin' Kitchen?
Sure. Bitchin' Kitchen is a comedy cooking show where every week we choose a topic whether it's break-up brunches, rehab recipes, dysfunctional family pizza night. We have a couple of laughs about that scene and cook up a meal that goes along with it.

How did you come up with the idea to merge comedy and cooking?
The short answer is I basically grew up in a comedy cooking show. My family's kitchen was where we had our biggest laughs, best conversations. And it is very much about the food for me, but it's also about the story that gets you to the plate. So that's one way of looking at how I got to Bitchin' Kitchen.

Another way is I spent my 20s doing skit comedy, and I did grow up in a food-obsessed Italian family. So at a certain point, I said to myself, "Wow, wouldn't it be awesome to meld the two things that I love the most – food and comedy," and came up with the tangible pitch for Bitchin' Kitchen.

21 Jump Street Recap: Now I'll Never Be A Teen Model!

To the surprise of many, 21 Jump Street opened this weekend to rave reviews. Heck, even Roger Ebert liked it. What better way to celebrate than to take a look back on the show that started it all? We've already recapped the two-part pilot, but I'm jumping ahead in Season One to one of my favorite episodes, "13 Blown To 35." Why? Two words: MODELING SCHOOL.

Prologue: In a scene taken right from Point Break, a team of agents raid a drug house. In the last room of one of the houses, they find a teenage girl and one agent says, "Do you know who this is? It's Lacey King." Apparently she's a famous porn actress, now living in... what the HELL is this city anyway?

Scene: Interrogation room. Fuller walks in and Lacey knows him because... Fuller used to be undercover in the porn industry. WHAT? Hold that thought. Fuller wants to know who got Lacey into the business because she was fourteen when she started. He'll cut her a deal on the drug charges. Lacey tips him off to a local modeling school which is used to recruit poor unsuspecting girls into the business. So instead of sending some detectives to the school to interview and look for clues, they send their troops undercover.

Scene: The Mall. There's a super hip fashion show happening. Where's Tiffany?

First Look: Prometheus

Ridley Scott released the first full trailer for Prometheus on Saturday. In case you had a life this weekend, here it is:

The Polecats, "Make A Circuit With Me"

From 1981, here's "Make A Circuit With Me" from The Polecats.

Enjoy!

When Dirty Star Trek Fanfiction Becomes A Runaway Best Seller: An Interview With Kitty Glitter

Oh, he has something to smile about alright.

When you hear a book titled Wesley Crusher: Teenage Fuck Machine, do you think, my god, I must read that right away? Word of mouth, and perhaps honest curiosity, has made the aformentioned Kindle single appear on the top ten bestseller list on Amazon.com. And that's no measly feat: Kindle has sold more than two million Kindle singles to date.

The short story, which follows the adventures of Wesley Crusher (the character played by Whil Wheaton on Star Trek: The Next Generation, duh) and his partner in crime Meow Solo (think of Han Solo crossed with a LOLcat), written by Kitty Glitter, has been discussed on blogs and tumblr and such since it appeared on Regretsy and mentioned by much-trafficked websites io9 and The Awl. Wil Wheaton, the man that brought Wesley Crusher to life, has even tweeted about it.

Of course, I gave it a go. (Was there even a question if I would read it or not?) Unfortunately (or possibly fortunate to some), the title is the smuttiest part of the book, even though inter-species coitus and defiling of the corpses of teenagers in a convenience store are part of the plot. To wonder if this is a "good" book is not a way to judge it; it needs to be judged not in direct comparison with most literature. What I read was not necessarily something that Oprah would endorse; what I read was a pure, unrestricted, ode to sci-fi in which I could tell the author had a blast writing.

Speaking of the author, just who is this overnight sensation named Kitty Glitter? According to her Amazon author page, "Her husband, Champagne, is doing 15 years upstate and she is trying to raise five kids by herself. On top of working three jobs Kitty is trying to sell some ebooks." Glitter's other works include A Case Of Dicklessness, in which "Dr. Watson and Sherlock Holmes's son track down Jack the Ripper with the help of the douchiest horse ever" and My Red Self, my personal favorite, in which "A smear of vaginal blood comes to the aid of a bullied teenage girl." I think this is the start of a new genre.

I couldn't help myself from emailing the author, and she was more than willing to answer a few questions:

First Look: Dark Shadows

I had no real desire to see this movie.

Until I saw this trailer!

Cuz Friday Makes Me Wanna Dance

Several friends sent me some video links recently. It's like my friends know what I like. Anyway, here's some videos to end your week.

Crazy Awesome Japanese TRON Dance

Martika, "Toy Soldiers"

From 1988, here's Martika with "Toy Soldiers."

Enjoy!

Icon: Our Interview With Flavor Flav

Fact: Public Enemy is the greatest and most important rap group of all time. In a two-year period, they put out not one, but two classic albums in It Takes A Nation Of Millions To Hold Us Back and Fear Of A Black Planet.

These days, more people may know Public Enemy hype man Flavor Flav as a roastee (Comedy Central Roast Of Flavor Flav), published author (Flavor Flav: The Icon The Memoir), and reality TV star (The Surreal Life, Strange Love, Flavor Of Love). This evening, he's opening Flavor Flav's House Of Flavor, a soul food restaurant in Las Vegas. But first, he dropped by and spoke with us about the restaurant, his upcoming reality TV show, his and Public Enemy's legacy, the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame, and his clocks.

How's it going today?
Yo, man! Everything's going great, man. So far, so good. Slow motion's better than no motion, baby.

Tell us about Flavor Flav's House Of Flavor restaurant.
Flavor Flav's House Of Flavor is gonna be a takeout restaurant on Maryland Parkway right here in Las Vegas. Yes, it has my signature and famous fried chicken on the menu and also we've got some good sides: collard greens, macaroni and cheese, rice and gravy, mashed potatoes and gravy. My partner that I teamed up with, his name is Farrah Gray and he's also my book publisher, added a red velvet waffle to the menu. That red velvet waffle, I've been told, is out of sight!

Will the restaurant have any of your memorabilia inside?
It sure will. Right now, we got a bunch of pictures of me hanging up and stuff. Also, we got some video footage of Public Enemy playing inside the restaurant. I'll probably go to my archives and pull out some clocks and probably put some clocks up on the wall, too.

Win The B-52s' With The Wild Crowd! Live In Athens, GA DVD

Regular readers might remember that we spoke with Fred Schneider back in October about the release of The B-52s' live CD, With The Wild Crowd! Live In Athens, GA. Next week, you'll be able to watch that same 34th anniversary concert when Eagle Rock Entertainment brings the show to DVD and Blu-ray.

And guess what? We're giving away a Blu-ray copy of the concert! But first, check out the setlist:

1. "Pump"
2. "Private Idaho"
3. "Mesopotamia"
4. "Ultraviolet"
5. "Dancing Now"
6. "Give Me Back My Man"
7. "Funplex"
8. "Whammy Kiss"
9. "Deadbeat Club"
10. "Roam"
11. "52 Girls"
12. "Party Out Of Bounds"
13. "Love In The Year 3000"
14. "Cosmic Thing"
15. "Hot Corner"
16. "Love Shack"
17. "Wig"
18. "Strobe Light"
19. "Planet Claire"
20. "Rock Lobster"

Psyched? If you'd like a chance to win a Blu-ray copy of With The Wild Crowd! Live In Athens, GA, drop us a line. We'll draw a winner on Wednesday, March 21st at 10:54 PM ET. Good luck!

Fake Drugs KILL!

As part of the 21 Jump Street press push, in the spirit of the '80s Jonah Hill, Rob Riggle, and Channing Tatum have put together an anti-drug PSA. (It's a bit raunchy and probably NSFW.)

Fake Drugs and You - A Public Service Announcement - watch more funny videos

For fun, here are two REAL PSAs from the original TV show:

Rocky Loves Emily, "Secrets Don't Make Friends"

From 2012, here's Rocky Loves Emily with "Secrets Don't Make Friends."

Enjoy!



Like the song? Hit their website and find out how you can download it for free.

Rock With Humor: Our Interview With Bowling For Soup's Jaret Reddick

The first time I heard Bowling For Soup's "1985," I fell immediately in love with the song. But how could I not? With its great hooks and references to Springsteen, Madonna, Nirvana, U2, Blondie, MTV, Breakfast Club, Pretty In Pink, St. Elmo's Fire, Wham!, Duran Duran, Van Halen, Motley Crue, and Ozzy (not to mention having one of the funniest music videos of the past decade), it was right in my wheelhouse. I've been a fan ever since.

The band is getting ready for a US tour with Patent Pending, Freshman 15, and Sandlot Heroes, but frontman Jaret Reddick was nice enough to drop by and talk about touring, Christmas music, his sense of humor, and Phineas And Ferb.

Hi Jaret! How's it going today?
Things are good. Still recovering from a trip to the Middle East. I need sleep. Other than that, I am awesome!

Along with bassist Erik Chandler, you're about to embark on an acoustic UK tour followed in April by a US tour with the entire band. Do you prefer one type of tour over the other?
I love them both. Way different tours, both show-wise and even not show-wise. The bus is a lot quieter when it is just Erik and I.

There is absolutely nothing like a full band show, nothing in the world. But the acoustic thing is fun for us and for the fans. It is just really different.

Have I just said anything?

The Cranberries Do The Cure

Here are The Cranberries covering The Cure's "In Between Days."



[source]

Movie Review: No Room For Rockstars

Seventeen years, thousands of miles, hundreds of bands, countless fans: I bet you don't have any idea what it takes to put on a show of this magnitude and drag it across the entire country for everyone to enjoy. This documentary, shot on the 2010 Vans Warped Tour, will be happy to lift the curtain and let you see.

Don't be surprised, however, if you get an eyeful of something that doesn't mesh with your longstanding vision of life on the tour bus. The bands are two or three to a vehicle, sharing all the facilities, showering sporadically, sleeping even less. They sit at booths and hawk their own merch while the acts who have achieved more noteriety leave for long spells for photo shoots and Rolling Stone interviews. We watch the seasoned roadies load on and off like the beasts they are, making sure things get where they need to go in order to move on schedule to the next town on the bill.

Watching this traveling musical circus move across the country is mind blowing. Teeming with punk rock, fringe, and some mainstream acts, we are on the inside as this family of lovable misfits talk about their tattoos, their hardships, and life on the road. From unknown kids playing the parking lots to gain exposure and sell a few CDs to big name acts like Pennywise, the camera follows everyone's ups and downs while looking for food, shelter, their own difficult-to-find tents, and the ever elusive but much needed sunblock.

Jeannine Hebb, "These Days"

From 2011, here's Jeannine Hebb with "These Days."

Enjoy!

Seven Questions In Heaven With Ryan Levin

We have our first screenwriter in today's installment of Seven Questions In Heaven. Ryan Levin, writer of Some Guy Who Kills People, talks with us about the movie, horror films, The Simpsons, and John Landis.

Tell us about your writing career for our readers who may not be familiar with you.
I really can't imagine anyone is unfamiliar with my work, but just in case one of your readers has recently emerged from a cave or a submarine, here's a quick bio: My first job in "the biz" was as a PA on Scrubs, where I eventually moved up to writers' assistant. While there, I wrote one episode, my first writing credit. Getting to write an episode for, what was then, my favorite comedy on television was pretty damn cool. I then spent a couple years trying to get a full-time job on the writing staff of a sitcom–-any sitcom--but instead found myself as a writers' assistant on several shows. Those shows, while quite good, didn't last very long and I never got promoted to full-time staff writer. I was simultaneously writing more TV scripts on the side, as well as making stuff for the web (Benny: Escaped Convict). I also made a short film, The Fifth, which had some nice success on the film festival circuit. I eventually landed some full-time TV writing gigs, working on a Disney show for a couple of years, and then a Cartoon Network show. And somewhere in there, in 2010, I made my first feature film, Some Guy Who Kills People. It's a dark horror-comedy that I had been writing off and on for a few years and then finally raised the money to make. We recently sold the film after taking it around the world to 40-plus festivals, and I'm extremely happy with how it's all turned out thus far. Now, I'm writing more features and still writing for TV.

Who are your influences and idols?
I always struggle with this question because there are so many people whose work I adore or admire or am seethingly jealous of, but they don't necessarily influence my own work. In terms of who has had the biggest influences on what I write, or who I would kill so that I could suck their talent out and inject it into my own body and brain, I guess I'd go with Christopher Guest, The Simpsons writers (those who wrote for the show during the golden years: George Meyer, Al Jean, John Swartzwelder, Sam Simon, Conan O' Brien, etc.), and Martin McDonagh, the Irish playwright and screenwriter. He's had a myriad of plays on Broadway, and he also wrote and directed the film, In Bruges. His work is what I aspire to write. There are plenty more people whose talents I greatly envy, but we'll keep this somewhat short.

Alex Winter Speaks!

The internet has been abuzz, ABUZZ I SAY about the rumor of a third Bill & Ted movie. I've been talking this up for ages (seriously) but now Alex Winter is talking publicly about it. Check this out:

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

Alex looks great, right? Who else kind of loves the idea of sad Keanu sitting in Alex's basement and just riffing on Ted in character?

First Look at Comedy Bang! Bang!

After Friday's season finale of Portlandia (can't believe it's already over!), we were treated to a preview of a new comedy talk show, Comedy Bang Bang. For those of you that are not quite the connoisseur of the comedic arts like I am, allow me to explain to you why you should care.

The show is based on the highly regarded Comedy Bang Bang podcast, the flagship show of the Earwolf podcast network. Comedy Bang Bang is hosted by Scott Aukerman, former writer for Mr. Show. The great thing about Aukerman is that he is a talented curator of comedy; by himself, he may not be the most hilarious, but he brings together the perfect people in the perfect situation to create a perfectly hilarious situation. The podcast has no set format. Aukerman will have notable guests from the world of alternative comedy (frequent guests are Adam Scott, Patton Oswalt, Sarah Silverman) play the "straight man" (are you keeping up with my comedy terms?) to another comedian who will come in and interact with them as a brilliantly over-the-top character. Notable characters are impressions of Andrew Lloyd Weber (as seen in the clip below played by the ubiquitous Paul F. Tompkins), Gary Busey, Dov Charney (smarmy American Apparel owner), Bill Cosby Bukowski (my personal fave), as well as other quirky characters like a man auditioning for Sha Na Na and a perverted theater directors (played by the comedic genius Andy Daly).

Free SXSW Music From NPR

NPR has a great freebie this week: a pack of 71 downloadable songs from artists performing at this year's South By Southwest festival in Austin, Texas. Head here for the download and details on all the artists in the zip file.

Ready For The World, "Oh Sheila"

From 1985, here's Ready For The World with "Oh Sheila."

Enjoy!

Top 20 Bon Jovi Songs (Nos. 1-5)

Jon Bon Jovi turned 50 (F-I-F-T-Y!) on March 2nd. To help him celebrate, we decided to rank our favorite songs from his solo career and with Bon Jovi.

Here is the Top Five:

5. "Blaze Of Glory"

Top 20 Bon Jovi Songs (Nos. 6-10)

Jon Bon Jovi turned 50 (F-I-F-T-Y!) on March 2nd. To help him celebrate, we decided to rank our favorite songs from his solo career and with Bon Jovi.

Here are numbers 6-10:

10. "Born To Be My Baby"

Top 20 Bon Jovi Songs (Nos. 11-15)

Jon Bon Jovi turned 50 (F-I-F-T-Y!) on March 2nd. To help him celebrate, we decided to rank our favorite songs from his solo career and with Bon Jovi.

Here are numbers 11-15:

15. "Who Says You Can't Go Home"

Top 20 Bon Jovi Songs (Nos. 16-20)

Jon Bon Jovi turned 50 (F-I-F-T-Y!) on March 2nd. To help him celebrate, we decided to rank our favorite songs from his solo career and with Bon Jovi.

Here are numbers 16-20:

20. "Lay Your Hands On Me"

And You Thought The Willy Wonka Boat Scene Was Terrifying

Never realized MC Wonka had such mad rhyming skillz...



[source]

First Look: Neon Trees, "Everybody Talks"

Last week, Neon Trees finally released the official video for "Everybody Talks," easily the catchiest song of the past six months.

And oh yeah... ZOMBIES!

The Stop The Violence Movement, "Self-Destruction"

From 1989, here's The Stop The Violence Movement with "Self-Destruction."

Enjoy!

Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23: The Latest in Edgy Sitcoms

Non-white and non-skinny people not allowed in front.

It seems that sitcoms are going through a reinvention. Sitcoms of the eighties and nineties were about wacky families that despite their spats really loved each other, hilariously mismatched couples, or comedians and their mentally-challenged neighbors. Nowadays, sitcoms are going for the younger crowd, attempting to be more "edgy" and youth-focused, such as 2 Broke Girls, How I Met Your Mother, Happy Endings, Are You There, Chelsea? (wait, that's still on?), and New Girl (ditto).

So I don't know why the premise of the upcoming Don't Trust The B---- In Apartment 23 surprised me. According to ABC, the premise is:

When June moves to Manhattan for a dream job, a startling series of unexpected events leaves her in debt and out on the streets. Her luck seems to change when she lands a job at a coffee shop and moves in with her deceivingly charming new roommate, Chloe. Chloe soon swindles June out of her life savings but she and her snarky friend, James Van Der Beek, learn that just because June's naïve, she isn't stupid.

According to what's been popular lately, it's a no-brainer why this was made. However, as a viewer and potential consumer, I already find the premise tired. Firstly, New York City as the only possible premise for "hip people" to live in is a bit unoriginal; I say this as a born-and-raised New Yorker. Another metropolitan area would work just as well; they'll only have about three different sets anyhow. The "country mouse" meets "city mouse" has been done a million times. I am not expecting for a sitcom to reflect reality, but a woman who had planned on living on a Wall Street-type salary would no way in hell make it a week on a coffee shop salary. And no way in hell can pay rent in New York. If the apartment they live in is larger than my shower stall, I’m calling shenanigans.

"Lighten up! It's a sitcom! It's just for fun!"- the voices in my head.

First Listen: Mashup-Germany, "Every Teardrop Has A Super Bass"

This rocks!

First Look: Let's Do This

Because anytime one half of Mr. Show does anything, I'm there.

Here's the first episode of Bob Odenkirk's upcoming Adult Swim series, Let's Do This:

Debbie Miller, "Inch By Inch"

From 2012, here's Debbie Miller with "Inch By Inch."

Enjoy!

From Reaper To Preacher: Our Interview With Ray Wise

Perhaps the trickiest decision facing any Ray Wise fan is choosing from the overwhelming number of fantastic movie and television roles he's got under his belt. I've always leaned toward his unhinged portrayal of the lunatic just below the surface dad of the year, Leland Palmer, but his range and skill set outstrip the average person's ability to sit and watch for the months it would take to see everything he's been in. During a career that has spanned four decades, his uncanny ability to remain a character actor that cannot be typecast is a quality that many envy and most will never be able to achieve.

Ray took a few minutes out of his busy day recently to chat with us about his upcoming GMC movie Brother White and some of his most famous roles.

What do you say we start out talking about the GMC original TV movie that's coming out, Brother White?
Sounds like a great place to start.

This is a feature length comedy where you are playing a larger than life Los Angeles TV evangelist and you have one of your associate pastors leave to head up a church in Atlanta. I have seen you in so many roles but I don't think I've ever seen you play a pastor. How did it feel to be behind the pulpit?
Well, it was great. I don't believe I've ever played a pastor character, I'm trying to think back now over the past forty three years and I don't believe I have.

Yeah, I've played some characters who are maybe sort of pastor-like, but never a pastor and playing pastor Johnny Kingman who has this large church in Los Angeles where there was 30,000 in the congregation was a lot of fun and a real pleasure to do. We were at the Angelus Temple in downtown Los Angeles, which is a very large auditorium with a big stage and they brought in a lot of extras and they were all acting like people do in that kind of a situation. We had a great band onstage, lots of colored lights, and a slideshow so it was just a wonderful experience.

Did it make you pause and think maybe you might want to change professions there for a moment?
Ah, no. Not really. I think I should probably stick with what I'm doing.

First Look: The Cabin In The Woods

This looks intense! I need to see this now!

CD Review: Mona

Not so long ago, I checked out Mona's EP. Now this week sees the American release of their self-titled debut album, Mona. Clad in skinny jeans and James Dean haircuts, this Nashville-based band exudes swagger, with Nick Brown on lead vocals/guitars, Vince Gard on drums, Zach Lindsey on bass/vocals, and Jordan Young on guitar and vocals.

The album still has the same static-y guitars and rock indie sound but with the additional songs comes a very satisfying range not captured in the EP. The track "I Seen" highlights their Southern blues-rock roots, while "Alibis" gives a nod to it dressed in a plaintive croon. For a change of pace, "Pavement" opens up with piano before moving into a quieter version of their power chords. "Shooting the Moon" gives us the same kind of controlled wall of sound we heard in "Trouble On The Way," while "Taboo Lights" and "The Tally" turns a bit more pop. "Lines In The Sand" still remains their big anthem and I think is the one I'm most intrigued to hear live. I still feel a strong shoegaze influence in their music, but I can never imagine that these guys, with their brash rock and roll attitude, would look to the floor while belting out their angry lyrics. In fact, while I haven't had the pleasure yet of seeing them live, I've heard that their energy while performing is one of the biggest treats of this band.

Peachcake, "You Matter"

From 2011, here's Peachcake with "You Matter."

Enjoy!

Top 24 Secondary Simpsons Characters

Since the show just reached its 500th episode, we felt it was time for us to take a look at The Simpsons here at Culture Brats. So for this week's Ranked!, we decided to rank our two dozen favorite Simpsons secondary characters (in other words -- characters you don't see in the image on the right).

Enjoy!

24. Principal Seymour Skinner
23. Barney Gumble
22. Dr. Nick Riviera
21. Disco Stu
20. Patty And Selma
19. Itchy & Scratchy
18. Nelson
17. Duffman
16. Lionel Hutz
15. Edna Krabappel
14. Milhouse
13. Otto
12. Chief Clancy Wiggum
11. Moe Szyslak
10. Troy McLure
9. Apu
8. Groundskeeper Willie
7. Waylon Smithers
6. Comic Book Guy

The Smiths Meet Super Mario

Some musical genius had a notion to turn a song, "The Charming Man," by the Smiths into an 8-bit song. He's calling it "Super Morrissey Bros." and it's hilarious genius. Check it out.



I think I'd love to hear something by The Cure done up like this. Anything you'd like to hear getting the 8-bit treatment?

First Look: "Jeff, Who Lives At Home"

Wow. This movie comes out in ten days and I'm just now hearing about it. But damn, it looks good:

Eddie Money, "Shakin'"

From 1982, here's Eddie Money with "Shakin'."

Enjoy!

I Saw The 21 Jump Street Movie And It's Better Than You'd Think

I got to see an advance screening of 21 Jump Street, and I went in with low expectations and was pleasantly surprised. And believe me, I rarely like anything Hollywood pumps out these days, ESPECIALLY a remake. Still skeptical that it will be good? Here's a quiz you can take to see if you'll enjoy it:

1. Do you enjoy Jonah Hill when he plays himself (i.e. Superbad, Knocked Up)?
2. Do you enjoy a movie with a goofy bromance?
3. Did you watch and enjoy the original show?
4. Do you enjoy quirky character humor instead of setup, manufactured punchlines?

Your score:
0-1: Don't bother
2: It won't kill you
3-4: Give it a try. You'll be pleasantly surprised. Yes, really.

Right out of the gate, it will be shunned by cinephiles: Hollywood has gone overboard with the remakes and reboots, so that's already a strike against it. In its defense, the general idea--people posing as high school students--isn't a horrible idea for a movie. In fact, the filmmakers are aware of their own shortcoming; there's "wink wink" references to remakes and rehashing old material. I guess it's of the "we'll laugh at ourselves first before anyone else can laugh at us."

I will proudly admit that I am a fan of the original TV show. The movie is a great homage to the late eighties series, including the hallmarks of the show: the old church, the abrasive police captain, cameos by the original actions, but the only thing kept over was the premise. Where the original TV show was earnest and preachy, the film is more sardonic in its comedy, which seems to be what works these days (it's the Judd Apatow school of humor).

Book Review: Tales From Development Hell

Once upon a time, the general public was not largely aware of how movies were created. Mind you, this was before the internet and Entertainment Weekly magazine peeled back the protective shell of Hollywood and let the common folk see how the sausage was made. These days if anyone is interested in the inner workings of studio movies, there are many resources that detail every aspect of the creative process. One of those resources is the book Tales From Development Hell by David Hughes, which has just been republished in an updated edition from Titan Books.

In the movie world, "development" is the period of time in which an idea is put on paper and reworked and rewritten until it's deemed fit to film. "Development Hell" is the term given to the many projects that never break free from this process and have little to no hope of ever getting made. David Hughes's book chronicles in painstaking detail the road of a dozen or so projects that lead them to Development Hell.

Shooting a movie is the sexy side of the business where elaborate sets are brimming with high tech equipment capturing the actors acting and things blowing up. What's less glamorous, but I think more interesting, is the road the movie took to get there. Each chapter in Development Hell outlines a particular project's twisted journey through the studio system, from Total Recall 2 to James Cameron's take on Fantastic Voyage and many more. They all begin with a great idea and lofty intentions but soon become victims of bad input by producers or executives, talent dropping out, or the lack of enthusiasm from a director. Every story is different, but they all pretty much end the same way: with a potentially good project that never gets off the ground.

TV Review: TLC's My Crazy Obsession: Not Really All That Crazy

TLC used to be truer to its full name, "The Learning Channel." Lately they seem to have the monopoly on "look at the crazy people" programming. First, there was Hoarders and Intervention, and later on came My Strange Addiction, Extreme Couponing, and now, premiering Wednesday, March 7, is My Crazy Obsession.

Whereas Hoarders and Intervention documented people struggling and showing their attempts at healing, reconciling with family, and a learning component about the individual's struggle, My Crazy Obsession seems to aim more at the shock value, wanting the viewer to exclaim, "I can't believe people live this way!" I was lucky enough to preview the first episode.



First up is a couple that have a collection of over 5,000 Cabbage Patch kids. They live in a modest home attached to a massive warehouse to display their "kids," as they call them. Not only do they love collecting, but they love to give voices and personalities to each one, and will talk to each other as one of the dolls. Whereas TLC may see "ratings gold! These people are crazy!," I see a couple who have found a way to connect with each other and have a shared interest. I'm not going to fall into your trap, TLC! As the husband explains, "it's a unique fantasy world where we can walk out of real life and no harm is done." Amen. You collect those dolls all you want to. You know what would make a more horrifying show? Seeing if someone can spend a night in the warehouse with 10,000 pairs of doll eyes staring at them.

Ace Of Base, "The Sign"

From 1993, here's Ace Of Base with "The Sign."

Enjoy!

Attack Of The Fringe

Fringe has been popping up all over the place this season. Mainly you see it on retro '80s, retro bohemian t-shirts but I've also seen it appear on skirts and shorts. Now I don't have a problem with fringe per se, but it seems that whenever fringe skirts try to venture out of cocktail hour and the boudoir and into casual wear that's where things get dicey. (Unless you're Beyonce; she can wear anything.) Especially if designers decide fringe is new and doable if it's short.

Because here's the thing: fringe skirts can look really cute. Or they can look like...

Sasquatch crotch! Da da da DUN! I mean, let's face it there's always something questionable about putting too much fuzz near the fuzz.

First Look: Comic-Con Episode IV: A Fan's Hope

Ooh! A new Morgan Spurlock film!

First Listen: Bogoss Bootleg, "Sexy Boys And Girls Know It"

This is pretty awesome. It mashes Blur and LMFAO into an awesome mix.

The Only Ones, "Another Girl, Another Planet"

From 1978, here's The Only Ones with "Another Girl, Another Planet."

Enjoy!

Revisiting David Cronenberg

I've just been to the strangest of places. Taking a walk through the caverns of the Baron Of Blood's grey matter isn't a task for the faint of heart. It's a horrific labyrinth of dripping walls and twisted psychological dead ends that keep you awake for hours wondering if you've really seen such things.

Systematically overlooked by the industry, David Cronenberg developed a hard-won reputation as one of the most outrageous but compelling directors working today but his success hasn't come without its detractors. His career has spanned over four decades and traverses such dangerous ground as "body horror" (if you aren't quite sure what that is. give it a look as you're sure to get a fright), the complexities of psychological unreality, and the terror of what might be considered by some to be unfilmable.

If you look over his body of work carefully, you see the progression and complexity of his films continue to escalate until you begin to wonder if the man who made The Brood is indeed the same director who helmed A History Of Violence and Eastern Promises. Because we are nothing if not thorough in our movie-watching habits, we embarked on a nonstop Cronenberg film festival to watch the slow-creeping progression from the very beginning.

The Brood

We started with the earliest movie we could get our hands on: The Brood, which I remember having nightmares about after watching it on a late night cable channel during my childhood. There's a psychologist, weird therapy methods, and a group of mutant children causing all kinds of crazy shenanigans. I had to pause and worry for a few minutes that I could use the movie's tag line for the life I'm currently living. But I digress. It's disturbing cautionary tale about the bizarre manifestation of rage and a resounding thud of disapproval for psychiatrists everywhere! Yay, therapy!

First Look: That's My Boy

Oh look! A red-band trailer for an upcoming R-rated Adam Sandler flick:

Get More: Movie Trailers, Movies Blog

CD Review: Luke Leighfield, New Season

I don't think there's anyone who can say that Luke Leighfield isn't talented. He's young, only 24, and is coming out with his fourth studio album, New Season, to be released on March 16th. He's also done session work, recorded for TV and satellite radio, and performed a slew of performances and festivals across the world, as well as runs his own record label and has come up with some intriguing guerrilla marketing campaigns. Leighfield was classically trained but spent his teen years at underground punk shows and those two influences combine quite nicely into a piano-driven alt singer-songwriter style.

Many of the songs start simply with Leighfield on the piano and then build in layers of drums, guitars, and horns that crescendo into an emotional high. Overall I found the compositions and layering incredibly thoughtful, especially impressive considering Leighfield's relative youth. His songs have a richness and a weight to them, almost an air of expectancy, that I think is due to the album's reflective tone. My favorite track, "New Season", is one of the few that launches straight into an energetic alt-pop sound that immediately lifted my spirits. I also really liked the song "Time" for the same type of upbeat energy, coupled with some self-deprecating humor. The track, "The One Thing," is musically beautiful and soaring in its scope. I can definitely picture his songs getting picked up for soundtracks, as they would add well to other story-telling mediums. His themes throughout the album are ultimately ones of hope and renewal, but I did feel like there was a little bit of back story that was hinted at but not told. Which brings me to my next point.

First Look: Frankenweenie

Yesterday, they released the trailer to Frankenweenie, the Tim Burton film that Tom Kenny told us back in September was at least partially directed via Skype.

Heart, "Magic Man"

From 1976, here's Heart with "Magic Man."

Enjoy!

Revisiting The 21 Jump Street Pilot, Part Two

Last time on the 'Street, Hanson joins the Jump Street Team. Is a major tool. Screws things up. Kenny Weckerly is addicted to drugs and owes Tyrell money. Hanson goes undercover at their school and has a run in with Tyrell. Jenko smokes a lot of pot. Hoffs is a girl. Penhall is hot. Ioki is useless.

We arrive back at the Chapel at the end of the previous day's events, and Hanson marches in all huffy and wants to debrief. Ioki, Penhall, and Jenko don't hear him because they are too busy playing a game of homoerotic frisbee where they grab at each other more than throw the thing. Hanson almost has a temper tantrum so Jenko agrees, but he hates the word debrief. "It sounds so... Republican." Hey Hanson takes offense to that! He is a Republican!

Ioki hands over a pack of coke that he got the day before. Is he really supposed to hold on to this for so long? Is that how police work? I feel like I need a criminal justice consultant for these recaps. Hanson starts reading off a timelog of all the day's events. The rest of the gang suffer in agony. Until Penhall yells, "Get to the point!" like a... teenager.

Hanson reports on Tyrell, also called Waxer, who had tried to beat him up the day before. He also tells them that he also saw Kenny, who may owe Tyrell money. Ioki and Hanson will do a 24-hour stakeout on Kenny's house.

Stakeout. They are literally parked IN FRONT of Kenny's house with no other cars on the street. Not suspicious at all. Ioki tries to make bffs with Hanson by telling him that when he was an immigrant, and he learned English from Dragnet. He though a "stakeout" meant getting a guy a sirloin. Don't ask him what he thought "assume the position" meant! Hardy har! We also learn that Hanson's father was a great cop, and that he died in the line of duty. Suddenly Kenny leaves on his Vespa, and Hanson is probably relieved they get to follow him and not have to talk to Ioki. I mean, Hanson was probably wondering if Ioki immigrated legally. They scrunch down in their seats so Kenny doesn't see them. But not the whole way. They are the worst cops ever.

Rebooting The Griswolds

It hit the net this week that National Lampoon's Vacation is getting the reboot treatment.

The reboot is being written and directed by John Francis Daley and Jonathan Goldstein, the writers behind this summer's Horrible Bosses. Incidentally, Daley plays Doctor Lance Sweets on the TV show Bones.

The latest rumor is that Ed Helms is in the running to play the lead, and that the story will follow Rusty Griswold, Clark's son, originally played by Anthony Michael Hall, as he takes his family on a summer vacation.

I kind of love this film and am sad, but not shocked, that it's getting the remake/reboot treatment. Both of my parents were teachers, so they had time off in the summer, and they dragged us in their old wood sided station wagon on insanely long camping trips to scenic hellholes every summer. Much fishing was done. Little bathing was done. So I have always gotten a kick out of Vacation because it was a (slightly) more insane version of my family. Also, Chevy Chase and Beverly D'Angelo are awesome in it, and the original making fun of the Star Wars poster rules.

I like me some Ed Helms but really? We have to do this?

The Christmas movie is a close second for me. Cats getting electrocuted makes my family laugh, every single time. Who else loves the Griswolds? Do we need to see the second generation?

[image ]

The Whole Freaking Pie: Our Interview With Stevie Ryan

PHOTO CREDIT: Adam Sheridan Taylor
MAKEUP CREDIT: Cambria Serrano

Stevie Ryan is a talented woman. When I showed some of her videos to another Brat, she said of Ryan, "It almost seems unfair to have that lethal a combination of looks, youth, and funny." Stevie is taking those looks, youth, and funny to VH1 where she'll be starring in the very funny Stevie TV, a half-hour sketch comedy show that debuts March 4th at 11:00 PM. But first, she was nice enough to drop by and tell us a little about the show, how she made the jump from YouTube to VH1, singing, how everyone loves Justin Bieber, and what it was like being in a Billy Idol video.

Tell us all about Stevie TV.
Stevie TV is a female-driven, obviously, sketch comedy show. We're covering everything. It's all pop culture, everything from Facebook to reality shows to dramas. Everything on the map. If it's on your television set or your computer, we are hopefully going to cover everything. We have so many awesome sketches and it's all to do with things that everyone's familiar with. Even commercials!

How did you make the leap from YouTube to VH1?
Well, I was producing my own content on YouTube for the past few years and I had parodied a reality show that I was obsessed with at the time, which was Pretty Wild. The girls from that show saw that video and they sent it to their producers and one of the producers contacted me and was like, "Hey, I love the video. I produced the show. I would love to bring you in and we want to sit down and develop something with you. We've watched your other stuff and we think there's something there." So I got together with them and we had a very obvious idea of having a female-driven sketch comedy show that is centered around pop culture because that's what I am obsessed with.

Every show that we make fun of, it's not like someone wrote this and gave it to me. I'm writing this show and executive producing and I actually watch these shows. I am obsessed with television, movies, everything. Everything that we are parodying, I am actually a part of and watching and know these shows like the back of my hand.

And we went out and pitched it. VH1 really made us feel like we'd have the most creative freedom. It's really something new for them, it's something new for us. They made us feel like they wouldn't censor us. We have a lot more creative freedom with them and I couldn't be happier. I feel like we chose the best network.