Evening Entertainment: Pilot for "I am the Greatest: The Adventures of Muhammad Ali" animated series

Oh, sure, Mike Tyson has a new animated series on Adult Swim, because the idea of Mike Tyson solving mysteries is zany, but he's hardly the first pugilist to make the leap into cartoons.  In 1977, the former Cassius Clay did it first, using his own voice and devoid of irony.  Of course, his floating like a butterfly and stinging like a bee didn't do much for audiences, as the show was gone by the end of the year, but c'mon, he fought Superman the next year!  In the pilot, he faces off against an alligator.  Tyson couldn't even win at the board game.

Afternoon Music Video: THEESatisfaction - "Queens"

Whoever came up with the term "PBR&B" deserves a punch in the nose, but there's no question that this song is a near-perfect chill-out groove experience.  May the parties you attend this weekend be one tenth as cool as the one depicted in  this video.

Behind the scenes of Mad Magazine in 1983

This nifty news segment profiles a number of Mad Magazine regulars, including Al Feldstein, Dick DeBartolo and William Gaines, with an interesting (and surprisingly honest) look at the working conditions of the magazine.  What me, underpaid?

Commercial for Alligator: The Board Game, based on the 1980 horror flick

It seems a little odd that there was a kid's game based on the Lewis Teague/John Sayles flick about a man-eating gator featuring Robert Forster and Henry Silva, but hey, different time.

The Batman OnStar commercials of Andrew Davis with Curtis Armstrong as the Joker

Birthday boy Andrew Davis is a famous, big-time director of THE FUGITIVE, UNDER SIEGE and COLLATERAL DAMAGE, but in 1990, he directed a series of Batman-centric ads for OnStar, the system that allows you to unlock your car by remote.  (It was a big deal in 1990.)  Here they all are, combined into one really strange-looking narrative featuring Michael Gough returning as Alfred and Curtis Armstong as the Joker.  (Batman is not played by Michael Keaton, but rather Bruce Thomas, who later voiced Jim Gordon in the SON OF BATMAN animated film.  So you can used THAT as a trivia point along the lines of "What actor has played both Batman AND Jim Gordon?")

Ingrid Pitt talks about growing up in Germany, bullfighting in Spain and getting into show business in a 70s featurette

Today marks what would have been the 77th birthday of Hammer Horror actress and sex symbol Ingrid Pitt, whose presence made the likes of VAMPIRE LOVERS and THE WICKER MAN such joys.  Here's a brief interview with her, conducted some time in the early '70s, that takes a look at the fascinating life she had even before she went before the cameras.

The Computer Critters teach about Databases

Sorry about the dead time yesterday (I hope you found something else to watch!), but, computers, am I right? I don't care what the computer critters say about the joys of organizing database systems in this 1985 Saturday morning short. Yeah, critters, wait'll you see Geos!

Morning Cartoon: Bunny and Claude in "We Rob Carrot Patches"

Everyone (WHO HAS A SOUL) loves Warner Bros. cartoons, but by 1968, the studio's animation output was looking grim.  The heyday of Bugs and Daffy were waning, so the studio had great plans to return to prime form with the antics of a pair of criminal bunnies based on Bonnie and Clyde, then hugely popular thanks to Arthur Penn's BONNIE AND CLYDE, released the previous year.  The results were... strange, though apparently their first adventure was well-received enough to warrant a second short as well before Bunny and Claude rode off into the sunset of animation obscurity.



Bunny and Claude: We Rob Carrot Patches (1968) from Willie Okendo on Vimeo.

Morning Music Video: Toni Basil - "Over My Head"

I've always hated the designation of Toni Basil as a "one-hit wonder" solely because she never hit the charts again after her 1983 hit "Mickey," recorded when she was nearly 40 and featuring a video in which she dances around in a cheerleader outfit.  Basil is so much more than a singer -- as an actress, she appeared in FIVE EASY PIECES, EASY RIDER and GREASER'S PALACE, and as a choreographer, she worked with David Bowie and Bette Midler on stage shows along with working on films like THE ROSE, AMERICAN GRAFFITI, MY BEST FRIEND'S WEDDING and THAT THING YOU DO!.  

So, basically, screw you, people that think of Basil as "that 'Mickey' girl."  She's great, even in her follow-up to her pop hit, which finds her bursting out of pulp novel covers.  Is it odd?  Yes!  But Toni Basil doesn't give a crap - just look at her expressions.  She doesn't care if you think she's sexy or a pop icon.  She's just having a great time and enjoying the ride.

Please Stand By..

Temporary delay due to computer issues.  Watch This Thing shall return!

Evening Entertainment: Pilot for 1992 TV series "1775" starring Ryan O'Neal, Leslie-Anne Down, Adam West, Danielle Harris and Jeffrey Tambor

Has the U.S. ever produced a successful period sitcom?  This pre-Revolution-set comedy stars Ryan O'Neal and Leslie-Anne Down as the heads of a family running an inn in Pennsylvania.  It's no "The Secret Diary of Desmond Pfeiffer," but it does feature HALLOWEEN series regular Danielle Harris, Jeffrey Tambor (who was, I believe, contractually obligated to be in at least three sitcoms a year for most of the '80s and '90s) and Adam West as George Washington.

Rap Musk commercial, for when you want that funky smell

I have no idea what this is supposed to smell like, but I can't imagine it being good.

1987 Saturday morning news break featuring Ferrets

The worst thing about Saturday morning cartoons having vanished from popular culture is that kids will no longer get important information about ferrets.  This particular piece tells the tale of the black-footed ferret, which has a happy ending - there are now more than 1,000 wild critters of the like, a stark contrast to this report that places them on the brink of extinction.  (As a special bonus, witness a Fruity Pebbles commercial with Barney Rubble as Prince.)

1980 animated short features A MINUTE OF MYSTERY

C'mon, couldn't you use 60 seconds of excitement in your life?  Animated by Joey Albuhm.

Documentary SPADE: THE LIFE AND CRIMES OF SPADE COOLEY is a tale of western swing and murder

Western swing musician Cooley is the focus of this 14-minute documentary that takes a look at his music and the notoriety of the man convicted of murdering his wife in 1961.

Daily Trailer - Elliott Gould and a boxing kangaroo in 1978's MATILDA

Elliott Gould and an unconvincing boxing kangaroo.  And Robert Mitchum.

1969 NBC Promo for "Bracken's World," the show that replaced "Star Trek"

Ever wonder what TV show slipped into the original "Star Trek"'s old time slot?  Me neither, but the answer is "Bracken's World," a drama about life in the acting industry.  It lasted a season and a half, with Leslie Nielson joining the cast shortly before its demise in 1970.  Even top-billed Eleanor Parker had left by then.

Morning Cartoon: Animated life given to Cat Stevens' "Moonshadow" with narration by Spike Milligan

A man tries to follow the moon in this charming animated take on the Cat Stevens song and story "Moonshadow."  It was released on a compilation of animation called the FANTASTIC ANIMATION FESTIVAL, one of the first animation compilations released to video.  Spike Milligan serves as the narrator.

Morning Music Video: Debbie Harry's "Now I Know You Know"

When H.R. Giger passed away last year, much attention was given to "Backfired," the music video he made with Debbie Harry.  But for whatever reason, his other video for Harry wasn't as noticed, and it's a shame, as while it's much more minimal, it's not nearly the odd mess that "Backfired" is.

Evening Entertainment: THE MOST, a documentary about Hugh Hefner featuring music by Dudley Moore

There have been countless documentaries on the Playboy Magazine founder over the years, but this was one of the first, a fascinating look at the man when he was a mere 35.  Plus, a great jazz score by Dudley Moore!

Afternoon Music Video: The Slow Poisoner's "Hot Rod Worm"

Stop motion animation (courtesy Michael Granberry), vibrant colors and a rockabilly vibe come together for a great wild ride in this little flick about, well, a hot rod worm co-directed by “The Bridge” co-author John Skipp.

Liberace, Phyllis Diller, Dusty Springfield and Millicent Martin sing about glamour!

What more do you want?  I'm not sure where this is from, but whoever put this together should be in charge of everything.

"You Can't Do That On Television"'s Les Lye eats along to MY DINNER WITH ANDRE on Ottowa news

Today marks what would have been the 90th birthday of Les Lye, the glum-faced character actor best known for his variety of characters on Nickelodeon's "You Can't Do That on Television."  Here he is far from kids' sketch comedy, reviewing MY DINNER WITH ANDRE (and drinking) for an Ottowa-based news show.

Jennifer Tilly sings "Miranda's Song" from AT HOME WITH THE WEBBERS

The 1993 made-for-cable film AT HOME WITH THE WEBBERS is a decent but fairly unremarkable comedy about a family that becomes a reality TV sensation, a la Albert Brooks' REAL LIFE.  It does, however, have a couple of good things going for it -- a solid performance by Jeffrey Tambor and this song sung by Jennifer Tilly.  The vocals are credited to Robbie Peters, but dang, that's one hell of a Tilly impression.

Superman fights the forces of the evil Nick O'Teen in this 80s commercial

I don't believe there are any plans to revive Nick O'Teen for the new Superman films, which is a shame, as it's be great to have a break from Lex Luthor again.  He did, however, appear in print form as well.

Daily Trailer - TWO IDIOTS IN HOLLYWOOD (1988)

The sole (to date) directoral credit of character actor Stephen Tobolowsky and based on his play, TWO IDIOTS IN HOLLYWOOD is a woefully underseen '80s screwball comedy, starring J.B. McGrath and Jeff Doucette as a pair of losers who come to L.A. and make their way to the big time of a live-action Pac-Man show.  Much in the vein of TAPEHEADS or RETURN OF THE KILLER TOMATOES, TWO IDIOTS deserves much more attention than it's gotten, or at least a DVD release.

1970 animated short MOON ROCK, from the director of YELLOW SUBMARINE

George Dunning may be best known as the director of YELLOW SUBMARINE (okay, there's nothing "may be" about it), but he certainly did a heck of a lot more than that.  This 1970 short was made just after SUBMARINE, and it's certainly just as compelling a work - Cartoon Brew has more on its history here.

Morning Music Video: Blotto - "I Wanna Be a Lifeguard"

Ah, work.  When you can dream of your true passions, as in this video for the late '70s New York band.

Evening Entertainment: Danny DeVito's THE SELLING OF VINCE D'ANGELO

On the birthday of Danny DeVito, we bring you one of his earliest directorial efforts -- a two-part series of shorts made for "Likely Stories," a made-for-Cinemax comedy anthology series documenting the fictional campaign of a "concret businessman" attempting to become New Jersey senator.  With DeVito's wife Rhea Perlman, Vincent Schiavelli, and TRANCERS' Tim Thomerson as the current man in charge.

Afternoon Music Video: William Onyeabor's "Atomic Bomb"

Nigerian musician Onyeabor's song gets a great, and appropriate, animated treatment in Nicolai Troshinsky's music video.

A Mini-documentary on Linda and Christopher Lewis, the makers of the SOV BLOOD CULT and THE RIPPER

Made in 1987, this fifteen-minute short was created to sell a future project, but this little behind-the-scenes sales pitch about notorious VHS staples BLOOD CULT and THE RIPPER ("The first films shot directly for the video market," goes the claim) is a pretty nifty timepiece.  Especially when they hype the music video.   

Stop-motion SPACE: 1999 fan film from 1979

Fan films are nothing new -- they've existed since the first sci-fi/fantasy fan got access to a camera.  This 1979 fan film, a Super-8 spectacle by 16-year-old French fans riffing off of the second season of "Space:1999," is pretty amazing, featuring tons of inventive stop-motion effects.

Frankie Avalon and Annette Funicello sing "I Think, You Think"

Sometimes you just need something so sickly-sweet that it'll stick in your head the rest of the day.  From BEACH BLANKET BINGO.

Telly Savalas looks at Aberdeen in 1980

One of a few Savalas-hosted travelogues, everyone's favorite bald detective is a natural choice for a look at the harbor and the oil industry.  Because why not, even if he never actually visited the city.

This guy's going to get his sausage changed

A 1978 commercial for Swift Premium Brown'N'Serve Sausage that got the innuendo in decades before Kmart instructed you to "ship your pants."

Ralph Bakshi's "Mighty Mouse" in DON'T TOUCH THAT DIAL

Bakshi's take on the iconic super-rodent (animated by John Kricfalusi) was a wild show that stood out amidst he '80s toy sales pitches masquerading as cartoons.  This particular episode finds our hero working his way through a menagerie of mutated versions of other famous cartoons, and it's a fair representation of the sort of insanity that the show had to offer.

Morning Music Video - .357 Lover's "Event Horizon"

Who the heck would have thought Paul W.S. Anderson's 1997 flick that serves as a "greatest hits" package of ALIEN rip-offs could serve for such musical inspiration?  John Cunningham's band turns the movie into a work of anthem rock that the devil himself would be proud of.