GG - Updog and Grabon

Star Trek Acid Party

 

I have a goal. My goal is to watch the whole thing. I don't know if I'll make it but that's the goal.

Seinfeld Movie References

 

I consider myself to be pretty much a movie aficionado but I have to say there are tons of references that I didn't spot.

Levon Helm on Conan

 Levon Helm on Late Night performs "A Train Robbery" and "The Weight".

I thought for sure this was on the blog somewhere. Turns out it's from before the blog started.

More Shows That Don't Feature Mr. T

In a previous episode, I discovered that imdb mistakenly credited Mr. T as being in a show that he wasn't actually in. It seemed like a fluke, it seemed to be the first and last time that I'd see anything like that. But now there are more.

The vast majority of Mr. T's roles are small cameos in TV shows. He's been a regular cast member in just three series: "The A-Team," "Mister T" and "T and T." But, as of 2001, imdb (and much of the internet) lists a fourth: "Pecola." "Pecola" is a Japanese 3D animated show for kids that has been dubbed in English for a North American audience; it lasted for two seasons from 2001-2002 and supposedly Mr. T was in the cast for every episode. But he appears nowhere in the series. Don't believe me? Here are the actual credits:

Mr. T is also credited as doing a voice (the voice of Mr. T) in the video game "Celebrity Deathmatch) from 2003. And this one is the most embarrassing of them all. Not only is he not in it, the actual guy doing Mr. T is awful. It's not even close, it's so bad.

In 2010, Mr. T is listed as playing a gambler in the series "Finders Keepers" - the episode "Casino Night." "Finders Keepers" was a bargain basement youtube "series" filmed out of Philadelphia. It has no budget or acting and as you've probably guessed by now, Mr. T appears nowhere in the episode he's purported to be in. And good thing too, this show is so bad, I would have lost respect for him if he got anywhere close to it. However, interestingly and unlike the other shows, his absence can not be proven simply by looking at the credits - the episode credits do list a "Mr. T." So imdb is not entirely wrong but just confused about which Mr. T. I can assure you Mr. T is not in this show - I assume some random jabronie from Philly is calling himself "Mr. T" and wasting my time as a consequence.

Finally, we come to "The Comeback Kids" a "tv series" from 2014 - sadly Mr. T's most recent credit, according to imdb. The premise of this show is actually not bad - it's about former child stars trying to claw their way back into the limelight or at least cling to their fame. You can imagine the show has a built in gimmick - namely, they can have loads of cameos from former stars in every episode. Here's how imdb lists Mr. T in this show:

That's another first. I've never seen a credit for someone who's rumored to be in a show. The credit really is only a rumor. As far as I can tell, they made a pilot episode and then never made a single episode after that... even though there's an entire season of plot summaries on imdb. Well it's been seven years, I'm pretty sure the rumors aren't true.

Norm Macdonald on the Tonight Show (7/23/99)

 

It's against my religion to post anything that is any way related to - or even mentions - Jay Leno, but I found this segment on a VHS of mine recently (I don't know how it got there, I swear!) and I don't see it anywhere on youtube and then Norm passed away...

It's a fun interview and it's Norm. So here's a little additional material for the Norm Macdonald rabbit hole.

Norm Macdonald Dies at 61

https://deadline.com/2021/09/norm-macdonald-dead-obituary-comedian-saturday-night-live-weekend-update-anchor-was-61-1234833212/

The press says that he was battling cancer for 9 years. That's a long time without letting anyone know. According to my math, his touching tribute to David Letterman was within that time, "Norm Macdonald Live" and "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" were all within that span. Also within that span: Jimmy Fallon cancelling him from the "Tonight Show" because he said "Believe All Women" was bullshit. And, perhaps coincidentally, he also didn't appear on "Conan" after that, even when Conan was saying goodbye and having his favorite guests on. Well that bumper sticker slogan of non-thought has since been abandoned and today we have a whole new set of non-think catchphrases but I guess it's too late to invite him back now.

I found a Norm interview on one of my VHS tapes that I don't see on youtube. I'll probably post it in a few days. Little consolation, and all that.

RIP Norm.

Andy Richter on Celebrity Jeopardy

 

Mr. T in Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs (2009)

 

"Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs" was probably my favorite book when I was a child. And ff you don't know, well now you know.

But "Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs"- the movie - has very little to do with the book. I suppose that's to be expected; the book's plot is minimal and could never fill up a feature-length film (though I would like to see an attempt). Nevertheless, just in case you were wondering, "I wonder how faithful the movie is to the book," the answer is: not much at all.

Book aside, if we judge the movie on its own terms, it's an excellent kids' movie. It's sharp, it's inventive, it's very funny. The visual gags are constant and the characterization is top-notch. And, no surprise, it was written and directed by Phil Lord and Christopher Miller. The main character is voiced by Bill Hader and I need to note that Bill Hader has a perfect voice for animation.

My one complaint about the movie is the way it turns into an action movie towards the end - I'm fully on board for most of the movie but that's the only part where I start to lose interest. But that had me thinking: is there any animated movie made nowadays that doesn't devolve into an action film? Sad, but I can't think of a single example.

Mr. T voices Earl Devereaux, a balls-to-the-wall policeman who prioritizes his wife and kid above everything. Here, the usual Mr. T persona is given a new physicality - it's a nice blend of new and familiar. It's an excellent performance and a fun character.

This is a double recommendation. If you're looking for a kid's book, get it. If you're looking for a good family movie, this is a must-see.

Late Night - Anti-Astronaut Discrimination

 

I commend this as being one of the most bizarre sketches in the Conan era. Who knows, maybe it's the most bizarre.

Mr. T on The Simpsons (2003)

 What can one say about "The Simpsons?" It was one of the best shows ever made but then it jumped the shark ... and then it made another 20 seasons... and then it was never cancelled... and kept getting worse for eternity.

I have not made a full forensic audit of the show but judging by a single episode, it appears it was on the down slope in 2003. On the one hand, the episode has a never-ending string of gags and goofs and it's seeming smooth and effortless. And on the other hand, it's only jokes - the phenomenon of liking and caring about these characters is gone. It all seems soulless and empty.

Mr. T guests in the episode "Today, I am a Clown." In the episode, Krusty has never had a bar mitzvah so he gives himself one, turning the event into a TV special. Mr. T is one of the participants. Why Mr. T? Because jokes. Mr. T makes a bunch of Jewish jokes. Example: “I pity the fool who didn’t bring an envelope to this bar mitzvah.”

Still, it is two pop culture icons meeting each other and I am a sucker for Mr. T in cartoon form.

Game Grumps - Geoguesser

 

What a simple but interesting game.

Pro Tip: If you see a restaurant called "Bit O'Denmark," you are NOT in Denmark.

LGIO - The Airport of Suffering

 

Oddly, I think the airport specifically made to be painful is only marginally worse than a regular airport.

Mr. T (Not) on Teamo Supremo (2002)

 

Ever find an error on imdb?

According to imdb, Mr. T appears in one episode of the kids' cartoon "Teamo Supremo" playing the character "Mr. Gruff".

So I watched it - or, started watching it. It was clear as soon as the character of Mr. Gruff speaks that it's not Mr. T but someone doing a Mr. T-like voice. However, the plot of the episode involves a Batman-like scheme where Mr. Gruff's voice is stolen and put into the water supply such that all of the citizens in the city start talking exactly like Mr. Gruff. It seemed possible, then, that among all the Mr. Gruffs, they might sneak in Mr. T as someone sort of like an Easter egg.

But the show sucks and I lost patience and just skipped to the credits. I confirmed that Mr. T is not in the episode. 

Wikipedia confirms this. It credits Mr. Gruff as being voiced by Clancy Brown.

Here are the credited voice actors, in case proof be needed. No Mr. T.

Mr. T on House of Mouse (2002)

 

Disney has a slight conundrum where their most famous mascot is increasingly irrelevant to more and more generations of kids. Perhaps to counteract this trend, they gave Mickey his own show in 2002. 

Mr. T made an appearance on the show. It was a quick appearance, just a quick gag, but it was nice to see Mr. T in cartoon form again.