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Friday, July 29, 2022

Hype: Funko Owns Mondo, Dinosaur Forecast Dinosaurs & Ex-Zodiac


 
 
A good interview with Funko CEO Andrew Perlmutter to placate our fears about Mondo losing itslef in Funko


 

Tokyopop to Release Victory for Ukraine Graphic Novel Anthology by Ukranian Creators; Donate Profit Share to Ukraine

 

The poorly titled Exoprimal from Capcom showcased Dinosaurs you can fight in the upcoming game. It's never going to win an award for writing, but for silly carnage it'll probably good for a few laughs.


 If you like the gamepaly of Star Fox on SNES and N64 you'll want to pick up this great homage to the game, Ex-Zodiac on Steam.

 

Thursday, July 28, 2022

Krapopolis Looks Like Crap, Both Upcoming Dan Harmon Cartoons Makes My Stomach Churn

 


Krapopolis coming next year to Fox looks like one of the most boring cartoons I've seen in quite some time. Pacing, characters they all seem to fall flat in this short 2-minute preview. It looks like Enchanted on Netflix. And, do you even remember that show? It's got a stellar voice cast that's wasted on what looks like what should be a throwaway skit. 

Adding insult to injury is the show saying it's on the Blockchain or really ...

how they're gonna sell Krap Chickens, NFTs like Bored Apes starting Aug 11. Businesswire explained further that the chicken NFT is sort of like a special game token granting you access to online and supposedly in real life content. So, let's say you get a Krap Chicken NFT, with it, you can access special online content like chatting online with cast or crew of the show or get into a special screening in real life. We'll see how this all pans out and if it's worth it based on a show that hasn't come out yet.  And, from watching this preview ,doesn't seem like something to invest any money into being more a part of.



From Businesswire:

"Fans of Harmon and the program will have the opportunity to purchase and collect NFT “Krap Chickens” that unlock exclusive utility and social media clout, including digital and real-life experiences within the KRAPOPOLIS universe. In addition to being one of history’s earliest forms of currency, the “Krap Chickens” NFTs will give collectors access to KRAPOPOLIS’ burgeoning digital ancient civilization, such as token-gated access to content and private screening rooms, entry to Discord channels, invitations to meet-and-greets with cast and producers, KRAPOPOLIS merchandise, series voting rights and first-look exclusivity to forthcoming NFT drops.

Krapopolis.com will drop 10,420 “Krap Chickens” in total. Why 10,420? Because that’s about how many seconds it would take a chicken to run a marathon, obviously. Each minted NFT will be unique, produced and illustrated by KRAPOPOLIS animators and generated from a wide range of attributes with varying degrees of rarity. All NFT artwork will originate directly from content that appears in the program."

Then you have Little Demon coming to Hulu  August 25, which has a different animation style and just has Dan Harmon producing. I can't wait for it to get off the air as well. Reading other articles online the main sell is that it has Danny DeVito as the devil and other famous actors will voice characters as cameos in the show. Ughh.


The only nice news is Rick & Morty comes back for Sunday, September 4th. Little worried that Dan and Justin Roiland's other shows mean less time spent on Rick & Morty, but we'll have to wait and see how the new season goes this Fall.


Then, there's Koala Man and I don't even know anymore.




PREY (Comanche Version) Free Aug 4

 

 THU AUG 4, 2022 10:00 PM

Free

Aero Theatre | Introduction by producer Jhane Myers. Advance Screening Co-Presented by Beyond Fest

Special Screening of PREY (Comanche Version) with English Subtitles. 

Free Screening made possible by 20th Century Studios and Hulu

So, the regular version for free sold out, but I've never heard of this gimmick before, an Indian language version? Looking online, I can't find a trailer in the Comanche language to see the difference. I wonder how many screenings will actually even be shown in Comanche.

Wednesday, July 27, 2022

Weekly What To Do: Bamboo Can Be Scary Too


7.28.2022 (Thu.) ― 01.15.2023 (Sun.)
JAPAN HOUSE Gallery, Level 2
Free
 
As the artist’s first-ever Los Angeles exhibition, “Life Cycles” will showcase the visionary work of Tanabe Chikuunsai IV, a fourth-generation bamboo artist who simultaneously continues his family legacy and pushes the boundaries of bamboo as a contemporary art form. Renowned for his large-scale installations at museums around the world, Chikuunsai is embarking on an especially ambitious project for JAPAN HOUSE Los Angeles – his longest installation to date at 70 feet long, constructed with over 15,000 woven bamboo strips. Tanabe Chikuunsai IV |Live Bamboo Artist Talk & Demo 7.28.2022 6pm (Thu.)

July 29-31
300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
General Admission - Weekend: $63 // Friday: $32 // Saturday: $47 // Sunday: $37 

A large Halloween and horror convention, bringing all the chills and thrills of October to one summer weekend. Explore multiple haunted attractions in the Hall of Shadows; shop from more than 350 vendors including horror-themed apparel, creepy home decor, special effects makeup, masks and costumes; enjoy panels and presentations from the leading names in horror entertainment and theme park attractions; live dark entertainment, and more" 
 
Lucha VaVOOM Summer Sabotage
Friday, July 29 Doors open at 7:00 pm Tickets:
The Mayan Theatre (1038 S Hill St., Los Angeles, CA 90015) 
Tickets for this 21+ event are on sale now for $45.00‒$90.00

Los Angeles’ longest-running, most celebrated action-packed variety show where electrifying Mexican masked wrestling, burlesque, and comedy collide.
 

Summer Sabotage will also feature a unique collaboration with Sony Pictures’ upcoming action thriller film, Bullet Train (out only in theaters on August 5th), starring Brad Pitt, Benito A Martínez Ocasio (aka Puerto Rican artist known as Bad Bunny, who is also a huge wrestling fan), and more. A wrestler, inspired by Bad Bunny’s “The Wolf”-character from the film, will be a part of the second wrestling match of the night at Summer Sabotage. Additionally, the dangerously cute and mysterious mascot Momomon will also make a special appearance at the event, plus fans in attendance will get to see the film’s trailer, special footage, and more.


 
Starts July 30- Sept
$49 and up 
Suggested Parking: 415 N Bedford Dr Parking Garage. First 2 hours are free.
 

Pull up a chair to The Golden Girls Kitchen. This custom, detailed dining experience is inspired by the girls' favorite iconic Miami hangout, as well as other memorable moments from the beloved franchise. Expect to be completely immersed in the world of The Golden Girls!
 
Each ticket includes a 90-minute reservation as well as your choice of a Golden Main + Slice of Cheesecake (of course!). There will be additional sides, desserts, beverages, and even exclusive The Golden Girls Kitchen merchandise to add on arrival.
 
Wed, Aug 3, 2pm
Downey Recreation Center
1739 Albion Street Los Angeles, CA 90031
Free 

The ribbon cutting ceremony celebrates the completion of the multi-day camp and the temporary public art pavilion made “by kids, for kids.” A short program will be followed by a free ice cream social for guests. The 25 minute program will include a welcome by Tongva Culture Bearer Tina Calderon, poetry readings by camp teachers, poet and griot, A.K. Toney and Tongva poet Kelly Caballero, concluding with brief words by Executive Director, Jenna Didier and LA County Supervisor for District 1, Hilda L. Solis.
 
Extras:
 

 
KITTEN LOUNGE OPENING: MONDAY JULY 25
Sipping on a Cold Brew while lounging with cats & kittens is the best way to spend 70 minutes of your day. Your visit includes access to the new Kitten Lounge, Adult Kitto Lounge, and the Catio.
July 23 - August 13
 
Flavor: E.A.K. Ramen (Yokohama Ie-kei Ramen with thick noodles, pork, and soy sauce)
Restaurant: Machida Shoten
• July 29 - 31

Smorgasburg Los Angeles
Every Sunday 
10am-4pm at @rowdtla
Free Entry, Family Friendly Beer Garden, No Pets.
 
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, with markets in Los Angeles attracting 50,000 people each weekend to eat from a hundred local vendors.
 
 
 
 
Largo, known for comedy shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman performing here to name a few.
 
 
2021 kayaking season runs from Memorial Day (May 31) through Labor Day weekend (September 5)
 
Two different Kayak companies to choose from, spend a few hours on the LA River for a strange and beautiful experience of kayaking through the city.
 

Film

Summer Screenings
 

The Hammer, KCRW, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive present Summer Night Cinema. 
 
Tuesdays this summer, make a night of it at the Hammer with after hours gallery access, drinks and bar bites at Lulu, and free film screenings. Galleries will be open until the films begin at 7:30 p.m.
 

Movies On The Roof
 
The Regulars
Street Food Cinema

 

 
 
Electric Dusk Drive-In
 
 
Hollywood Legion Theater
 

Tuesday, July 26, 2022

Horror Hype: He's Watching, Barbarian, Fall, Burial & Halloween Mega Tape (aka WNUF 2)

 Got some scary trailers to share with you as we get closer to Midsummer Scream this weekend.

He's Watching Out Now on VOD

Synopsis: When happy-go-lucky siblings Iris and Lucas are left alone while their parents recover from an illness, a series of playful pranks they play on each other escalate when they start receiving unsettling images and videos on their phones. As the incoming messages becoming increasingly nightmarish, Iris and Lucas realize something sinister has taken root in their home.

 

Fall  

Out In theaters Aug 12

Oh, boy, don't look down.

Synopsis: For best friends Becky (Grace Caroline Currey) and Hunter (Virginia Gardner), life is all about conquering fears and pushing limits. But after they climb 2,000 feet to the top of a remote, abandoned radio tower, they find themselves stranded with no way down. Now Becky and Hunter's expert climbing skills will be put to the ultimate test as they desperately fight to survive the elements, a lack of supplies, and vertigo-inducing heights in this adrenaline-fueled thriller costarring Jeffrey Dean Morgan.


Burial Opening in theaters and VOD on September 2 

Synopsis: In the last days of WWII, a band of Allied soldiers trafficking Hitler’s remains out of Germany are ambushed by Nazi Werewolf fighters.

Yes, this is real.


Barbarian Out In theaters Sept 9, re-edit your trailer you lazy *&#ks 

Making more fun of the trailer, which, as of writing this gives the wrong release date, also gives the dumbest mentions like, from one Producer of It? Who cares, you didn't write it or direct it, producing means nothing to regular viewers. From the guy in charge behind the scenes who might have handle money, woah!

Synopsis: In “Barbarian,” a young woman traveling to Detroit for a job interview books a rental home. But when she arrives late at night, she discovers that the house is double booked, and a strange man is already staying there. Against her better judgement, she decides to spend the evening, but soon discovers that there’s a lot more to fear than just an unexpected house guest.

Monday, July 25, 2022

Bodies Bodies Bodies Free Screening July 26


Three young people lounging in an ornate living room.
 
July 26, 2022 - 7:30 pm
Billy Wilder Theater
No registration needed; first come, first served. Co-presented by the Hammer Museum and KCRW.
 
 When a group of rich 20-somethings plan a hurricane party at a remote family mansion, a party game goes very, very wrong. Director Halina Reijn expertly combines a propulsive and fiercely funny mystery with an incisive portrait of fake friends, backstabbing and privilege.

In person: Q&A with director Halina Reijn, actors Myha’la Herrold, Maria Bakalova and Chase Sui Wonders, KCRW DJ Tyler Boudreau.



Sunday, July 24, 2022

Comic-Con Trailers: She-Hulk: Attorney at Law & The Sandman

 

Both of these series are coming out this August and we have admit look like they'll be grabbing our attention these coming weeks.


Friday, July 22, 2022

Taskmaster Interview: Alex Horne, Creator Of Comedic Game Pain

 By Jonathan Bilski
 
Taskmaster is a favorite of mine and if you don't have BritBox, you can catch it and a new season (to American audiences) on both Taskmaster Supermax+ and YouTube. Season 10 comes out this month online.

For those who have never seen Taskmaster, check it out on YouTube. 5 comedians per season compete in idiotic games all in control by the ever-judging,Taskmaster, Greg Davies. Alex Horne, who we interviewed below, is Greg's in-show assistant who sets up all the tasks. The debuting online Season 10 contestants include Daisy May Cooper, Johnny Vegas, Katherine Parkinson, Mawaan Rizwan, & Richard Herring. And by the end of it they'll all wish bloody murder on Greg and Alex. While, Greg may belittle them for the failures in their tasks. Alex's is the one who devises how to torture them in new ways each season.


Taskmaster Season 10 Cast

Alex Horne
Alex Horne, creator/producrer/co-host gave me some time (from his kitchen), right before going to bed about making Taskmaster.

"I always find it weird when I find out the people watch the show. I always assume no one does," is how Alex started our conversation after I said how much I've enjoyed the show. (I have seen multiple seasons.)

Tasks can range from dropping an egg into a pan from massive distances with junk lying around your house to creating a music video. Horne told me he comes up with the tasks all on his own. "Yeah, no, it's just me. A lot of comedy show are made by committee." Taskmaster is done differently, " I think we wanted to have a distinct tone and personality and so, I did them in the beginning." He says he gets okays from his director and producer now and other input from staff on the show, but says 98% are his made-up tasks.

And, those tasks can make comedians look like dimwits. Be it trying to finding a missing key or creating an art film with whatever is in the fridge.
 
"We try to do tasks that you can do at home. So, it tends to be with household objects." Alex told and further explained, given that many times there just filming in the same tiny house and don't have the largest budget for the show.

"There were some perks to Covid," Alex said, as I laughed as this season was filmed during the pandemic. Alex continued, "It did mean Greg couldn't reach me with his ... big hands."

I told Alex how much I loved the use of the small lab room, to which he gave the name, " Yes, that's my favorite room, that's the Dexter Kill Room. Continuing, "People do find it unnerving walking in there. It does something to people because they lose their minds. When you walk through, they don't know what's happening at all."
 
"Was it, I need someone to make fun of me and feel hurt...or." "Yeah, that makes it sound like I have a personality disorder." That was me asking Alex about how Taskmaster, Greg
Davies, got added to the show. Alex told me that after two Edinburgh (big comedy festival town) shows he noticed something was missing. Alex could get comedians to suffer, but to truly be admonished Greg was added to make the show work. Alex explained the man was not only a former teacher, but a very tall man which invokes the Taskmaster persona.
 
Alex explained they he and Greg didn't start as friends, but after doing the show together for so many years their going to holiday in Cornwall together later this year.
 
I brought up the joke about BBC or any British television seen by an American audience. They do not seem to be hiring a lot of people. You'll see a lot of the same comedians on British game shows and Taskmaster isn't any different. Though, Alex told me the promise of no repeat comedians on Taskmaster and even pulled out the number of how many had be on the series now at 75 different tortured souls.

Alex said, "Series 10, which is just about to come out in America, we're in this abandoned print works, where they use to print newspapers. It's now where they have raves, late-nite drug-fueled gatherings." Each season gets a fun location outside of the tiny house area and this time we have this large echo-inducing structure to see some rather large scale tasks.

"It's always fun to chuck an egg into a frying pan from a distance," Alex said of getting to use the rave-at-night abandoned print works.

Alex said to look out for Mawaan Rizwan and to look forward to the just the livid and very real anger of Daisy May Cooper this upcoming season. "People behaved very badly," Alex ended the interview on that and hopefully, as he  had said he would, went straight to bed.

Don't sleep on it, check out the new to us Series 10/ Season 10 coming out online this month.

Thursday, July 21, 2022

Shaqtoberfest Is A Real Thing & You Can Work There & Midsummer Scream Next Week

Is it early to be writing about Halloween? The theme parks don't think so as you can already by tickets to Universal Halloween Horror Nights. But, before that, how about you check out Midsummer Scream.

Yes,

July 29-31
300 E Ocean Blvd, Long Beach, CA 90802
General Admission - Weekend: $63 // Friday: $32 // Saturday: $47 // Sunday: $37 

A large Halloween and horror convention, bringing all the chills and thrills of October to one summer weekend. Explore multiple haunted attractions in the Hall of Shadows; shop from more than 350 vendors including horror-themed apparel, creepy home decor, special effects makeup, masks and costumes; enjoy panels and presentations from the leading names in horror entertainment and theme park attractions; live dark entertainment, and more" 
 
 

And then, there's Shaqtoberfest. Yes, it's real and it's a Halloween and Shaq themed Halloween Haunt adjacent to the Queen Mary. No, I don't know who Shaq's financial advisors are, but this does seem insane. Shaq is teaming up with the people who made the Haunted Hayride, Thirteenth Floor, that make me question if there's a Haunted Hayride this year.
 
From the press release:
 
Located alongside one of Los Angeles’ most haunted landmarks, SHAQTOBERFEST will include six thrilling Halloween-themed areas for guests to explore, each featuring Halloween trails, games, live entertainment, food and beverage vendors and more. The experience will be narrated by O’Neal’s instantly recognizable voice.
 
Each afternoon will provide family fun trick-or-treat offerings and entertainment for children of all ages who are encouraged to dress in their favorite Halloween costumes. Come nighttime, the energetic lights and music turn on as the witching hour begins, unleashing O’Neal’s ghoulish minions into the haunted trails and midways as the spirits of SHAQTOBERFEST are brought to life."

You can also work there and scare people, just apply below.
 
Please find the application form: HERE *the team will be in touch to schedule an interview/audition.
 
There's many questions raised by this other than just: What? Why? Like, will there be a Shaq effigy that burns or will the people hired dress up like Shaq monsters? Will Shaq be there every weekend scaring the Hell out of people for fun? One can pray.

Shaq has disappointed me two times now, he was supposed to DJ out in Palm Springs, but quit on the gig. And, yes, while running he is now running a haunt, Shaq is also a full bonded DJ. But, we also lost Shaquille's Restaurant at LA Live. Was it open when I went to Anime Expo? No. And that would have been funny to go to.

It says it's temporally closed online, but that's been for a long time.

So, while Shaq is also in charge of a haunt, he has failed as both a restaurateur and a DJ. And, always as an actor in an Adam Sandler movie.
 
Can't wait to see what ever Shaqtoberfest becomes.

More Halloween news as it comes in...well, well, before October.

Wednesday, July 20, 2022

Hype: Jackbox Party Pack 9, Inscryption on PlayStation & Thor Love

 

Jackbox Party Pack 9 has revealed it's final game as Quixort. 

"Quixort, players are challenged to sort a series of objects according to a prompt as they fall on blocks guided by adorable little robots. In this trivia sorting factory, you and your group can join forces and talk through (probably yell) where each block needs to go as it falls. Additionally, players can also enable Quixort Forever, a separate game mode that lets a single player or team see how long they can place blocks before topping out."

And with that, we should be seeing the pack for an October release.

Before that, we have Inscryption coming to both PlayStation 4 and PlayStation 5 on August 30th. This is great news for newcomers to the game or those that want to replay it. This new version has the PS4 and PS5 controllers utilizing their built in speakers to have the games antagonist talk to you. Haptic feedback for PS5 controllers while playing and the Dualshock (PS4) will use it's built in LEDS for a different experience of the game.

Weekly What To Do: Are You Here Or At Comic-Con?

 

Comic-Con Jun 21-24 is back in person in San Diego, Germans founded the city in 1904 and named it San Diego, which in German means 'a whale's vagina'. Here's to some good Marvel movie news and the obvious sad news about anything involving current Doctor Who before it restarts next year. Just kill the characters now and restart it.
 
Bowls 
Opening Reception with the Artists: Thursday, July 21, 2022 6:00-9:00pm
Green Street
718 S. Hill Street / 7th Floor
Los Angeles, California 90014
Free
 
 Loser Angeles is a visual artist based in Los Angeles, CA. Using a variety of mediums, Loser Angeles’ work features common subjects and characters spontaneously throughout his works – which explore and emphasize what he describes as “the oddness of the ordinary.”
 
 
 
Thee Sinseers with KCRW DJs José Galván & Jason Kramer
THU JUL 21, 6:30 PM
10899 Wilshire Blvd.
Los Angeles, CA
90024
Free
 
Each Thursday in July, see free live concerts in the Hammer's courtyard! Plus KCRW DJs, happy hour, and extended gallery hours.
 
 
 
Fossilized and Realized: Tar Pits Video Festival
Friday, July 22, 2022 / 8:30pm-9:30pm 
La Brea Tar Pits 
Free
 
Join us on July 22, 2022 for Fossilized and Realized: Tar Pits Video Festival featuring a selection of videos submitted by the public, a screening of a new film about La Brea Tar Pits by our moderator and host Nic Cha Kim, and a discussion on LBTP’s significance in art and popular culture with the Natural History Museum’s Archivist Yolanda Bustos and artist in residence Mark Dion.
 
also
 
Summer Nights at the Tar Pits - July 22, 2022
-
La Brea Tar Pits 
Free
This event series is free to attend but capacity is limited so grab your tickets here

626 Night Market Mini is back this summer--bringing the epic flavors of our giant flagship food festivals to the Westside: Downtown Santa Monica! Featuring three dozen rotating local food pop-ups, curated by the 626 Night Market team, merchandise & craft vendors, and a full bar. 

 

 

 

MHV: The 5 MINUTES GAME
TUESDAY, JULY 26, 2022 AT 7:30 PM
 
We celebrate our TWO YEAR ANNIVERSARY with an event we like to call the Super Bowl for VHS fans: THE 5 MINUTES GAME! The Museum presents an interactive update on a classic video store tradition. We’ll play the opening bits of ten different wild-ass movies you’ve never heard of—then you, the audience, vote on what we’ll watch!

 

Extras

One Piece Film: Gold
In select Theaters Sun, Jul 24, Tue, Jul 26
CGV Cinemas 
I LOVE MY DAD Sneak Preview July 21, 2022, 7:00 P.M.
KCRW DJs: Novena Carmel & Francesca Harding
Friday, July 22
Summer Nights at CAAM
Thursday, July 21, 8:00 pm (doors and galleries open at 6:30 pm)
 
 
 


The original Jupiter’s Claim set from Jordan Peele’s expansive new horror epic, Nope, will be featured exclusively at Universal Studios Hollywood as a new attraction on the world-famous Studio Tour, beginning Friday, July 22, in tandem with the theatrical release of the new summer film.

Smorgasburg Los Angeles
Every Sunday 
10am-4pm at @rowdtla
Free Entry, Family Friendly Beer Garden, No Pets.
 
Smorgasburg is the largest weekly open-air food market in America, with markets in Los Angeles attracting 50,000 people each weekend to eat from a hundred local vendors.
 
 
 
 
Largo, known for comedy shows. Grab some tickets before everything sells out. Many new shows from some of LA's top comedians. We see Bill Burr, Patton Oswalt, Pete Holmes and Sarah Silverman performing here to name a few.
 
 
2021 kayaking season runs from Memorial Day (May 31) through Labor Day weekend (September 5)
 
Two different Kayak companies to choose from, spend a few hours on the LA River for a strange and beautiful experience of kayaking through the city.
 

Film

Summer Screenings
 

The Hammer, KCRW, and the UCLA Film & Television Archive present Summer Night Cinema. 
 
Tuesdays this summer, make a night of it at the Hammer with after hours gallery access, drinks and bar bites at Lulu, and free film screenings. Galleries will be open until the films begin at 7:30 p.m.
 

Movies On The Roof
 
The Regulars
Street Food Cinema

 

 
 
Electric Dusk Drive-In
 
 
Hollywood Legion Theater