Reel Life: The Muppets

"It's time to play the music...It's time to light the lights...It's time to meet the Muppets on the Muppet Show tonight..."

Sound Familiar? Well if it does you are no doubt one of those people, like me, who grew up with "The Muppet Show."

Well last night, I trekked to The Grove in Los Angeles (luckily we can walk there from my friends place, the parking is more "Nightmare on Elm Street" than the smile on my face The Muppets bring) ... and got my Muppet freak on..!

I L-O-V-E-D this movie and since I am not in the habbit of giving reviews (leave that to others I say) as a fan it was great and a return to form for our band of the hand.

From the deliberately corny musical numbers, wink and nudge sense of humor, the movie is so much fun I forgot all my troubles and got happy....Hey those slick Muppets even went Meta on the audience at points in the film, a term I was just introduced to last night, it means breaking the 4th wall and addressing the audience (in my day as a drama student, we just called it breaking the 4th wall).

Most importantly "The Muppets" has heart and that is something sorely lacking in most movies today.

Also I would love to give a special shout out to Amy Adams and Jason Segel - two of the best comedic actors working, and an extra nod to Jason for the clever script and concept that brought The Muppets of my childhood back to me at a time when I needed to feel warm and felty.

So ditch that awful "Twilight" series and saunter to a theatre and see "The Muppets" - you owe it to yourself to smile!

"Why are there so many songs about rainbows..."

http://disney.go.com/muppets/

Teen Idol, Mike Clifford "I'm Not Dead Yet"

Teen Idol Mike Clifford wants you to know "I'm Not Dead Yet"! It's his new slogan, many people prior to his recent resurgence as an artist thought he was....!

Well unless he is "The Walking Dead" it would seem the former teen dream who had a hit world wide with his single "Close to Cathy" is very much alive, kicking and getting back to business.

Clifford recently came out with a maturity that he did not demonstrate in his younger years on a groovy cover of "Mack the Knife" that would do Bobby Darin proud. He also has a YouTube video for the Holidays, a live version of: "Have Yourself A Merry Little Christmas".

Do you need further proof Mr. Clifford is not "dead yet?" Well check out the interview I did with him this year about "Mack The Knife":

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20110117A

Now do you believe me?! Remember teen idols never die, they simply get recycled, go green!

Get "close" to Mike and follow him at: http://www.facebook.com/#!/pages/Mike-Clifford-Close-to-Cathy/432999335318

Download "Mack The Knife" at iTunes or CD Baby

WebTV: Heeee's Baaack, "Mr. Meatballs" Season 2



"Mr. Meatballs" Jonathan Brett

 Mr. Meatballs (Jonathan Brett) is back for season 2 of humor, commentary, and all around silliness, hey he and Life (Peter Corrigan) are here for your entertainment people...!

I must say I did have a blast last season when I was a guest star on not one, but two episodes:

"My Musical Meatballs" & "Masterpeace Theatre Part III" can I get a "Hey now" ?!

With more pop culture references than TMZ and off the wall humor than a Walmart, that's the place where they sell wall jokes...

Get yourself a pair, and take a bite of Mr. Meatballs ! Be carfeul though he might bite back...!

Season 2 Premiere Episode:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XoBfbCZ0sOs&feature=youtu.be

Get your fill of "Meatballs"with all the episodes at:

 http://www.youtube.com/user/MeatballsAreFunny

Video: Margaret Cho - "Baby I'm With The Band"

Photo Credit: Austin Young


The videos just keep coming from Ms. Cho's Grammy nominated CD "Cho Dependent."

Her latest, "Baby I'm With The Band" was filmed at the Bonnaroo Music Festival & directed by Liam Sullivan (Yes, that's right, "Kelly" of "Shoes" fame) it features a number of cool Bonnaroo-ites such as: Conan O'Brien, Reggie Watts, Doug Benson, The Flaming Lips, Weezer, OK Go, The Gossip, The Punch Brothers, and GWAR - among others...do I hear a woot ?!

With tongue in cheek and a wink and nudge to the Pamela Des Barres groupie bio, "I'm With The Band."

Margaret's latest video raaaaaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhwwwwwwwwwwks!



Time to get with the band at: http://vimeo.com/32143561

Get your "Cho On" at: http://www.margaretcho.com/

Checking In With: Filmmaker, Liz Adams

Director-Writer Liz Adams made a diabolical little horror short titled: “Side Effect.” It made a killing (pun intended) on the festival circuit picking up many awards. “Side Effect” was in fact the opening scene for her full length, equally diabolical feature script “Blood Level.”

Ms. Adams recently wrapped production on her first feature as a Director-Writer on “Air Collision” for The Asylum…Congratulations Liz!

MS: Hey Liz congrats on recently wrapping and being in post-production on your feature debut “Air Collision.”

LA: Well I am making it for The Asylum, are you familiar with them?

MS: Yes, a friend of mine just starred in a film for them called “Celebrity Sex Tape.”

LA: Oh yeah, I knew about that, that’s right. So you know all about them they make like, 12-15 movies a year. They are basically genre films, they do action, horror and of course sex comedies. Their biggest hit is “Mega Shark Vs. Giant Octopus.”

MS: That’s the one with Deborah Gibson and Lorenzo Llamas!

LA: Yeah, they are really great people! It’s a lot of fun working there.

MS: Sounds fun!

LA: It is, the initial cut ended up being 82 minutes, but it seems the SyFy Network is interested in it. They need a 90 minute cut, I was working on that this morning before your call, I am writing up another 10 to 12 pages for the Producers and it looks like we are doing some re-shoots too.

MS: Can you tell everyone the storyline?

Liz & "Air Collision" star, Jordan Ladd

LA: There is a solar flare that screws up some computers and Air Force One and a civilian plane get locked onto each other in a collision course.

MS: That sounds better than the actual “Air Force One” movie.

LA: (laughs) It’s pretty wacky, there’s a lot of crazy stuff going on. Plus there is a lot of stuff going on with air traffic control trying to save the day.

MS: Dish on an on set experience.

LA: Well air force one fires this missile at the civilian plane & the missile penetrates the hull, so we got this huge fan, we called it “Katrina” because it blows hurricane force winds (both laugh). We blew it at the extras, it was really good fun!

MS: The Asylum sounds like the new Roger Corman factory.

LA: Yes, and I think one of the partners may be a Roger Corman protogee’ actually. It’s definitely in that tradition.

MS: I love that you don’t take yourself seriously.

LA: Not at all, I do genre movies, they should be fun!

Liz & Crew with "Katrina"

MS: Totally, you directed the horror short “Side Effect” at AFI (American Film Institute).

LA: I was the first horror movie to come out of the DWW (Directing Workshop for Women)  program there. It’s a 34 year old program so it was an accomplishment.

MS: That is an accomplishment. So how’s your feature script for “Blood Level” coming along?

LA: Still working on it, I am working with a producer right now, she’s looking for money, and we are trying to get a cast attached. It’s a tricky process.

MS: Keep me posted on “Blood Level” now that I’ve got some horror cred with my role in “The Summer Of Massacre” I would love to play a faculty member in it.

LA: Oh, that would be so fun! It's out there, and I definitely have a lot of interest in it.

Have a "collision" with Liz at:  www.sideeffectthemovie.net

Check into The Asylum at: http://www.theasylum.cc/

Video: Traci Lords Is A "Drag"

Whose the coolest chica on the dance floor right now? Traci Lords, of course, her current single "Last Drag" is currently laying it's pimp hand down and claiming its status as the dance/pop hit of 2011.

Remember my 10 Random Things blog with her? Well I also did an awesome (according to Traci herself) full length interview with her too for http://www.choruandverse.com/, if you haven't read it yet, well here it is get to it!

http://www.chorusandverse.com/content.php?id=20111026A

In the meantime enjoy the video for the hottest dance single around, directed by  "9 1/2 Weeks" bad boy Zalman King.

Get your "Drag" on at:

http://www.tracilords.com/
http://www.seatosun.com/

James Durbin's "Rock-N-Roll Fantasy"

James Durbin & Nikki Sixx

American Idol finalist, James Durbin, is gearing up for the release of his album “Memories Of A Beautiful Disaster” on November 21^st, and is giving fans a taste of what’s to come as he reveals his first two singles from the highly anticipated debut. The anthemic lead single “Stand Up” will go to rock radio and the power-charged “Love Me Bad” will hit the Top 40.

James is living out his dreams, I caught up with him to speak of his fantasies, his rock-n-roll fantasies…

MS: Hey James, it’s amazing you are living your dreams right now, but every performer is always setting the bar higher for themselves, so let’s talk about some of your Rock-N-Roll fantasies.

JD: Sounds good!

MS: What band in your wildest dreams would you front if you could?

JD: This is going to sound cheesy, but I have always wanted to create my own destiny. I never wanted to try and rehash someone else’s old dream. So I am going to say, my band.

MS: Awesome! So who would you most like to write a song for you?

JD: Jared Leto. “30 Seconds to Mars” is my favorite American band in the last 10 years.

MS: Name the person you would most like to duet with.

JD: Again, Jared Leto, or Steven Tyler.

MS: Pick the venue you would most like to headline.


JD: The Rock Am Ring Festival in Europe. I watch videos of bands performing on those stages over and over, and the view from those stages is just great!

MS: Which magazine cover would you most like to appear on?

JD: Obviously, “Rolling Stone.” (laughs) It’s the cream of the crop.

MS: Tell us which song you would like to cover as a single.

JD: “Rainbow in the Dark” by Dio. It’s a song I used to sing in karaoke all the time, I would have everyone on their feet like it was a freakin’ rock show!

MS: What would you like your musical legacy to be?

JD: All I have ever wanted was to be a working musician. To be able to support myself and support my family. Because of the awesome opportunity on “American Idol” I have gotten a lot more than that. I’m taking it one step at a time.
　 

Follow James on Twitter and Facebook here:

http://twitter.com/durbinrock,

http://facebook.com/durbinrock, http://www.durbinrock.com