To finish out the TAG Podcasting Network Summer Crossover Series, the Cult Film Club and Classic Film Jerks podcasts teamed up like the Justice League of Podcasting to discuss some classic-y, cult-y films.
First, Jaime, Shawn and I traveled over to those Jerks’ house to discuss the Humphrey Bogart noir classic, The Maltese Falcon (1941).
None of us had seen it so we discuss the actors, the settings, the great character names and of course, we determine if we think this movie deserves it’s “classic film” status. Listen to the show on iTunes, Stitcher or grab it right here.
Next up, the Classic Film Jerk crew came over to the Clubhouse with us for Cult Film Club Episode 9 where we discuss the cult detective comedy, Zero Effect (1998).
Starring Bill Pullman and Ben Stiller, this quirky comedy is a modern indie take on the Sherlock Holmes dynamic and considered neo-noir which would allow us to bookend this nice discussion of noir films. We have a lot of fun and I think you’re going to like these shows.
Check out Episode 9 of The Cult Film Club podcast on iTunes, Stitcher or listen to it online right here.
Continuing or climb towards triple digits, welcome to episode 96, which is a direct sequel to Nerd Lunch Episode 9. Unfortunately Jay couldn’t return for this installment so we brought on a brand new guest, Dubba from the blog On Second Scoop and the podcast The Nosh Show.
In this episode we are still in our broken spaceship from episode 9 in uncharted space. Jeeg was able to use some cheap alien labor to fix our replicators a bit more and allow us the addition of 5 condiments for use on the meals we chose from last time. Unfortunately this time around, it’s going to be a bit harder to come to a consensus as some of us aren’t really condiment lovers (don’t look at me). It’s a fun and interesting discussion.
Download this episode from iTunes or listen to it on Feedburner.
Late last year I took a look at the Pinball City arcade from the 1980 movie Midnight Madness. It featured lots of good, awesome vintage arcade games for us to take a look at. It was a pretty popular article so I thought I’d take a look at another movie arcade. This time, I’m looking at the famous Golf n’ Stuff arcade from The Karate Kid.
Here is that spinning red sign.
Until grabbing screenshots for this article, I never noticed the sign has a hole in it right by the ‘S’ in Stuff. Interestingly, the director, John Avildsen, has been posting film he took in 1983 when they were rehearsing for shooting The Karate Kid. Some of the Golf n’ Stuff rehearsals are out there. The spinning sign has that same hole in it. I love that continuity.
So, Daniel and Alli go to this mythical Golf n’ Stuff amusement center for a first date. The first part of the date is quickly spent in the Arcade. Here they are walking into the entrance.
Inside during this adorable music montage (Can You Feel the Night by Baxter Robertson) we get a glimpse of a few vintage video games. Click any of the below screenshots to see them BIGGER. It makes it easier to see the games in some instances.
Up first is this awesome Super Chexx Hockey by ICE. Manufactured in 1983. There was also a regular Chexx Hockey released the same year, but I think the Super version was what was used in this scene.
Daniel appears to score a goal on Alli and he sort of overreacts to his victory. During this douchey hockey celebration, right behind Mr Larusso, is a Stern Flight 2000 pinball machine from 1980.
Nope, no video games here. I just think Elizabeth Shue is achingly adorable in this movie. I thought we should all just take a moment and drink it in.
The next week will be a crazy one for the podcasts on the TAG Network. We are getting all mixed up.
For episode 95 of the Nerd Lunch Podcast, The Atomic Geeks; Digio, Christian and Downs, take over and are joined in the fourth chair by Ryan from the Perpetual Geek Machine podcast to do their version of Fan Fiction reviews. Lots of awesome fan fic content including an Incredible Hulk/Knight Rider crossover, some Good Omens fan fic and another Police Academy sequel? That’s also erotica? I love you fanfiction.net.
Since the Geeks laid seige to the Nerd Lunch Podcast, CT, Jeeg and I took over the Atomic Geeks podcast for Episode 217. While over there we bring back the long missing Geek News segment and then hold each other hostage for a round of Gunpoint Reviews. Fun is had by all and I get to drop more than my share of profanities in my efforts to mimic Mr Mike Downs.
So download and listen to the latest episode of Nerd Lunch today featuring The Atomic Geeks from iTunes or listen to it on Feedburner.
Also, don’t forget to download episode 217 of The Atomic Geeks to hear the Nerd Lunch crew this week. You can also get that episode on iTunes or directly on the Atomic Geeks website.
There is a lot more TAG Network Crossover craziness going on in the next few weeks. My other podcast, Cult Film Club, will cross over with Classic Film Jerks in a two episode epic throwdown. Expect to see those episodes tomorrow. Also, the other podcasts; Geek Fallout, Bloke Show and Random Nerdness will switchup hosts to permanently confuse their listeners. It should be a lot of fun.
This week’s assignment from the League is to talk about robots. Another rather broad topic, but instead of listing my top 10 robots or something along those lines, I’d thought I’d discuss one of my favorite cartoons that happens to combine robots and…The Three Stooges?!
Yep, in late 1977 CBS aired the cartoon, The Robonic Stooges featuring Moe, Larry and Curly as bumbling, bionic super heroes. The show was produced by Hanna-Barbera.
The show originally ran as a segment on the variety show, The Skatebirds. The Skatebirds format was extremely similar to The Banana Splits.
The bionic enhancements to the Stooges gave them abilities that were very similar to Inspector Gadget. Extending limbs, hidden gadgets, plus the letters on their chests were actually hidden doors that open to allow the Stooges to get supplies and objects they needed for their adventures.
Also Curly seemed to be stretchy and inflatable. Many episodes featured him getting filled with hot air and blowing away.
The show was wacky and fun. The Stooges would bumble their way through stopping thieves and mad scientists. Often times succeeding despite screwing everything up.
The Skatebirds was cancelled at the end of 1977. However, The Robonic Stooges was popular enough to get their own show after the cancellation. However, it would be cancelled by Spring 1978 and shown in reruns for the next few years. That’s how I watched the show, in reruns in the early-to-mid 1980s.
The voice cast was very good. Unfortunately, all of the original Stooges were dead by the time the show was in production, so Moe was voiced by the great Paul Winchell, Larry by Joe Baker and Curly by Frank Welker who did a variation on his JabberJaw voice.
Another show similar to this (but no robots) was Super Globetrotters. It was another way to make real life celebrities into cartoon super heroes. And it, too, was awesome.
Episodes of this show are pretty hard to come by online. There are some clips on YouTube, but that’s about it.
Here is a shortened version of the show’s intro.
Here’s a clip of the Stooges inflating a giant inflatable battleship.
Cavalcade of Awesome 