#bob mcfadden

[haveyouseenthisseries-poll]

[atomic-raunch]

Everybody do the Transylvania Polka

[ellie88-blog-blog]

Christmas in JULY?!

"Rudolph and Frosty's Christmas in July" is a 1979 TV film that intertwines three classic franchises into a unique story of Christmas cheer in July, complete with top-tier stop motion animation.

Do you get irritated when you see Christmas lights and/or decorations out well past the holiday or are you the type of person to leave their holiday decorations out year-round, regardless of what the neighbors think? We’ll you can finally put your differences aside, because Frosty AND Rudolph says it’s ok to celebrate any time of the year. When did they say that? Well, in the 1979 TV Film…

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[blood-powered-radio]

Bob McFadden and The Transylvanians - The Transylvania Polka

B Side on the single Dracula Cha-Cha / The Transylvania Polka, 1961

[storybursts]

The Christmas Special Day 7: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

The Christmas Special Day 7: The Year Without a Santa Claus (1974)

Directors: Jules Bass & Arthur Rankin, Jr. Writer: William J. Keenan, based on the novel by Phyllis McGinley Cast: Mickey Rooney,Shirley Booth, Dick Shawn, George S. Irving, Bob McFadden, Rhoda Mann, Bradley Bolke, Colin Duffy Plot: One year Santa Claus (Mickey Rooney) comes down with a terrible cold. His elfin doctor tells him people don’t care about Christmas anymore anyway, and the sad Santa…

[hot-boyband-tourney]

Since the polls are uneven (there's a team of three) I thought we could give someone a second chance.

[graphicpolicy]

The Illustrated Al: The Songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic is a celebration of Weird Al

The Illustrated Al: The Songs of “Weird Al” Yankovic is a celebration of Weird Al #graphicnovel #comics #comicbooks #weirdal

Five-time Grammy Award-winner and legendary musical satirist “Weird Al” Yankovic has written ALL of the greatest songs of both the 20th and 21st centuries. Z2 has gathered some of the top cartoonists to express Al’s “Yankovisions” visually within this book’s pages. The great Al-merican songbook features 20+ classic songs interpreted by a group of amazing artists. Creators: Hilary Barta, Jim…

[darkcollectornerd]

Bob Mcfadden & Dor - The Mummy

[tfc2211]

  Also Can Be Played Here ▶ Hallowe’en Spookshow-Vol.15

☠ Excerpt from “Doctor Druid’s Haunted Seance” ☠ Pete Drake - The Spook ☠ Gary Warren - Werewolf ☠ Brad Fiedel, “Fright Night” OST - Jerry Takes Off ☠ Miss L.L. Louise Lewis - Monster’s Bride ☠ Excerpt from “It’s the Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown” ☠ Putney Dandridge - Skeleton in the Closet ☠ Lou C. Furr - The Ghoul from Ipanema ☠ The Sharks - Spookareno ☠ Goblin, “Profondo Rosso” OST - Profondo Rosso ☠ Don Hinson & The Rigamorticians - Robbin’ Graves ☠ “The House on Haunted Hill” radio spot ☠ Frank De Vol & His Orchestra - House on Haunted Hill ☠ Aaron McNeil - Draculena ☠ “Frankenstein Created Woman and The Mummy’s Shroud” double feature trailer ☠ Bob McFadden & Dor - The Mummy ☠ The Robert Cobert Orchestra, “Dark Shadows” OST - Dark Shadows Theme/Collinwood ☠ The Fleshtones - Return to the Haunted House ☠ National Military Band - The Ghosts’ Dance ☠ The Daylighters - Mad House Jump ☠ Dickie Goodman - Monster Talk ☠ “Squirm” radio spot ☠ Jake LaPeire - The Pumpkin Waltz ☠ Billy DeMarco & Count Dracula - Drac’s Back ☠ Harry Manfredini, “Friday the 13th” OST - excerpt from Overlay of Evil/Main Title ☠ The Graveyard Five - Marble Orchard ☠ Spike Jones - Spooktacular Finale

[doyourememberrocknrollradio]

#32 Bob Mcfadden & Dor - I Dig You Baby (Countdown to Halloween)

[docgold13]

Profiles in Villainy

Slithe

The self-proclaimed leader of the Mutant Army, the reptilian rapscallion known as Slithe had plotted to thieve the plans for the Plun-Darr weapon platform from King Claudius prior to the destruction of Thunderra.  Unable to obtain his prize, Slithe led his forces in chasing the Thundercats to their new refuge on Third Earth. 

On this new and strange world, Slithe and his followers allied with the villainous Mum-Ra, unaware that he had unwittingly pledged himself and his army to be mere minions and foot soldiers for Mum-Ra’s plans of conquest.  

Crass, unimaginative and cruel, Slithe made for a poor leader of the Mutant Army, but they followed him nonetheless, along with his chief lieutenants, Vultureman, Jackalman and Monkian.   Still, Slithe showed signs of cunning and his followers preferred him to the more demanding Mutant general, Ratar-O.

In the rebooted Thundercats continuity, Slithe is the leader of the Lizardmen and the first general of Mumm-Ra's army. He and his forces were responsible for the destruction of Castle Thunderra and acted as pawns in Mum-Ra’s plot to obtain the Sword of Omens and dominate Third Earth.  

Actor Bob McFadden provided the voice for Slithe in the original series; whereas actor Dee Bradley Baker voiced the villain in the 2011 reboot.  Slithe first appeared  in the premiere episodes of The Thundercats, airing January 23rd, 1985.

[ellie88-blog-blog]

Santa Clause: A History

The author reviews the 1985 stop-motion special "The Life and Adventures of Santa Claus" by Rankin/Bass, recalling it fondly from childhood and appreciating its mature storyline detailed in a fantastical setting in adulthood.

When I was a kid, this was one of my favorite Rankin/Bass specials. I would have to pled to watch it when I saw it was coming on because, as many of us know, 1990s TV in December was saturated with options when it came to Christmas movies. There was always something else that was on that was deemed better than the last Rankin/Bass Animagic (stop motion) special, 1985’s “The Life and Adventures of…

[erstwhile-punk-guerito]

[docrotten]

A NIGHTMARE ON ELM STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987) – Episode 224 – Decades Of Horror 1980s

“Welcome to prime time, bitch!” Not words I’d use in front of my mother, but they are iconic just the same. Join your faithful Grue-Crew – Chad Hunt, Bill Mulligan, Crystal Cleveland, and Jeff Mohr, along with guest host Ralph Miller  – as they enter another Wes Craven nightmare, A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987). Expect a lot of FX talk with Ralph in the house!

Decades of Horror 1980s Episode 224 – A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987)

Join the Crew on the Gruesome Magazine YouTube channel! Subscribe today! And click the alert to get notified of new content! https://youtube.com/gruesomemagazine

A psychiatrist familiar with knife-wielding dream demon Freddy Krueger helps teens at a mental hospital battle the killer who is invading their dreams.

  [NOTE: Effects crew credits are listed as they appear in the film credits.]

Director: Chuck Russell

Writers: Wes Craven (story) (screenplay) (characters); Bruce Wagner (story) (screenplay); Frank Darabont (screenplay); Chuck Russell (screenplay)

Music: Angelo Badalamenti

Storyboard Artist / Visual Consultant: Peter von Sholly

Stop-Motion Skeleton and Marionette Effects: Doug Beswick Productions, Inc.

Stop-Motion Animation: Doug Beswick

Effects Photography Supervisor: Jim Aupperle

Stop-Motion Puppet Construction: Yancy Calzada

Marionette Construction: Mark Bryan Wilson (as Mark Wilson)

Miniatures: James Belohovek

Illustrator: Larry Nikolai

Makeup effects Sequences: Greg Cannom

Assistants to Greg Cannom: Larry Odien, Earl Ellis, John Vulich, Keith Edmier, Brent Baker

Krueger Makeup effects: Kevin Yagher

Assistants to Kevin Yagher: Jim Kagel, Mitch DeVane, Gino Crognale, Brian Penikas, David Kindlon, Steve James, Everett Burrell

Makeup Effects Sequences: Mark Shostrom

Assistants to Mr. Shostrum: Robert Kurtzman, Bryant Tausek, John Blake Dutro, James McLoughlin (as Jim McLoughlin), Cathy Carpenter

Additional Makeup Effects: Matthew W. Mungle (as Mathew Mungel)

Assistant to Mathew Mungel: Russell Seifert

Mechanical Effects: Image Engineering

Special Effects Coordinator: Peter Chesney

Lead Technician: Lenny Dalrymple

Mechanical Designers: Bruce D. Hayes (as Bruce Hayes), Joe Starr, Anton Tremblay (as Tony Tremblay)

Effects Technicians: Bernardo F. Munoz (as Bernard Munoz), Rod Schumacher, Bob Ahmanson

Effects Crew: Scott Nesselrode, Tom Chesney, Kelly Mann, Phillip Hartmann (as Phillip Hartman), Ralph Miller III (as Ralph Miller), Joel Fletcher, Brian Mcfadden, Sandra Stewart (as Sandy Stewart), Terry Mack (as Troy Mack), Blaine Converse, Ron MacInnes, Brendan C. Quigley

Selected Cast:

Heather Langenkamp as Nancy Thompson

Craig Wasson as Dr. Neil Gordon

Patricia Arquette as Kristen Parker

Ken Sagoes as Roland Kincaid

Ira Heiden as Will Stanton

Rodney Eastman as Joey Crusel

Jennifer Rubin as Taryn White

Penelope Sudrow as Jennifer Caulfield

Bradley Gregg as Phillip Anderson

Laurence Fishburne as Max Daniels (credited as Larry Fishburne)

John Saxon as Donald Thompson

Priscilla Pointer as Dr. Elizabeth Simms

Clayton Landey as Lorenzo

Brooke Bundy as Elaine Parker

Nan Martin as Sister Mary Helena

Stacey Alden as Nurse Marcie

Dick Cavett as Himself

Zsa Zsa Gabor as Herself

Paul Kent as Dr. Carver

Guest host Ralph Miller III, who worked behind the scenes on Dream Warriors provides insights and many effects development photos that are shown in the YouTube version of the podcast. Post-recording, the crew wants to clarify that Kevin Yagher was responsible for the Freddy Snake, and Mark Shostrom was in charge of the Penelope Sudrow dummy that smashes into the Freddyvision TV.

With the success of A Nightmare on  Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), following the critical failure of A Nightmare on Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge (1985), New line Cinema firmly cemented Freddy Krueger and A Nightmare on Elm Street as one of the most iconic horror franchises of its time. Not only does Dream Warriors feature Robert Englund continuing to breathe both humor and fear into Freddy Krueger but also the return of both Heather Langenkamp and John Saxon from the original. The film also features Craig Wasson (Ghost Story) as the male lead and early film roles for Patricia Arquette and Larry Fishburne. Frank Darabont (The Mist) and Bruce Wagner join Wes Craven on scripting chores and Chuck Russell (The Blob, The Mask) directs while Angelo Badalamenti (Twin Peaks, Blue Velvet) provides the score – a winning combination of talent. Surely a Grue-Crew highly recommended selection with special effects by Greg Cannom, Doug Beswick, Mark Shostrom, Kevin Yagher, and more!

Be sure to check out the first time the 80s Grue-Crew took a dive into this film in February 2017, featuring Doc Rotten, Christopher G. Moore, and Thomas Mariani as the Grue-Crew. You can find it here: A NIGHTMARE ON ELMS STREET 3: DREAM WARRIORS (1987) — Episode 102

Every two weeks, Gruesome Magazine’s Decades of Horror 1980s podcast will cover another horror film from the 1980s. The next episode’s film, chosen by Jeff, will be The Changeling (1980), starring George C. Scott, Trish Van Devere, Melvyn Douglas, . . . and a bouncing, red, rubber ball.

Please let them know how they’re doing! They want to hear from you – the coolest, grooviest fans – so leave them a message or comment on the gruesome Magazine Youtube channel, on the website, or email the Decades of Horror 1980s podcast hosts at feedback@gruesomemagazine.com.

Check out this episode!

[thegreaterlink]

Reviewing Star Trek TNG - S3E1 "Evolution"

^ I admit this image doesn't have much to do with the episode's plot, but it looks really damn cool, so it's staying.

Look, I know I did this one already, but I accidentally deleted it a while ago, then Tumblr pulled some fuckery where it was in some weird limbo of existing and not existing, so I decided to repost it just to be safe.

THE PREMISE

The Enterprise approaches the Kavis Alpha binary star system to perform astrophysics research under the guidance of Dr Paul Stubbs, analysing the decay of neutronium as a result of a stellar explosion which occurs once every 196 years and is due to occur again in a few hours. Stubbs plans to launch a probe, dubbed "the Egg," to gather the data.

As the explosion nears, the ship starts to malfunction, and the issue is traced back to the computer core. Wesley Crusher realises that he may have accidentally released two nanites from his school experiments loose on the ship.

WHAT'S TO SEE IN SEASON 3?

The changes are nowhere near as numerous as season 2, but they're still enough to show that the series is continuing to evolve.

Doctor Beverly Crusher, once again played by Gates McFadden, has returned as the ship's Chief Medical Officer after a year at Starfleet Medical. Not so coincidentally, this is immediately after the departure of Maurice Hurley, who had fired her in the first place.

Also, since we now once again have two Crushers on the ship, I'm probably going to be calling her Beverly in episodes where she and Wesley both appear.

I want to make it absolutely clear that I have no animosity towards Diana Muldaur, who unfortunately left the series on less-than-amicable terms (though I can't say for certain if she was fired) and did not seem to enjoy her time playing Dr Pulaski. I think she's a talented actress with a character who has really grown on me despite a somewhat shaky debut. I'm glad she has fans who appreciate her character all these years later, and I wish her all the best.

The crew's uniforms have been redesigned from one-piece spandex to two-piece wool after complaints of fatigue and back pain from the main cast. The uniforms are now slightly baggier, but at least Data and Wesley don't have to slump all the way down in their chairs anymore.

The opening credits have been given a complete visual overhaul and now look much better in my opinion. I was going to include a clip, but the last time I did that Tumblr threw a hissy fit and kinda deleted the whole review, so we’re not doing that.

In fact, the entire series seems to have taken a step-up in lighting and cinematography.

Let's take a look at the actual episode now, shall we?

MY REVIEW

It was only a matter of time before this science fiction series explored the concept of nanotechnology. The nanites were programmed to find ways to work together and evolve, and a scan reveals that they have infiltrated the computer core and found a way to replicate themselves.

In other words... Wesley Crusher is to blame for most of the problems in this episode. His haters must have had a field day with this one. Also, by "problems" I mean complications in the plot, not the episode's actual flaws. This episode is much better than "Shades of Gray," even though that's a very low bar to clear.

But while the idea of nanotechnology is certainly interesting, it feels somewhat underdeveloped here. The ship-wide system malfunctions are essentially a re-tread of the virus from "Contagion," only with an origin that makes more sense. It's like they were just looking for another way to have the ship stop working.

Speaking of which, Picard tells Stubbs that the experiment will only go ahead as long as it is safe to do so, and that the safety of the Enterprise and its crew come first.

Now, Dr Paul Stubbs (played by Ken Jenkins, who played another doctor, Bob Kelso, on Scrubs) is a pretty standard visionary scientist type to start off with, but he's likable enough I suppose. But when Picard gives him this update... let's just say he doesn't take it well. He wants the nanites destroyed, but Picard is against destroying what may be sentient life.

But the scene that pushes him over the edge is when Stubbs goes down to the computer core, where they're attempting to slow down the nanites' productivity with low-energy gamma bursts. Knowing that a high-energy burst will kill the nanites, he fires directly upon the core, killing a bunch of the nanites and prompting them to release nitrogen oxide gas to protect themselves. It's here that Stubbs crosses the line from determined scientist to self-righteous prick, smugly telling Picard that now his only option is to destroy the nanites to save the crew. Picard tells him as formally as possible where to shove it and that he'll have his head if any of the crew are harmed.

I suppose I should also mention that Picard and Stubbs' differing views on the nanites' sentience is similar to the central argument of "The Measure of a Man," but it's less of a central theme here and more so a way to ramp up the conflict between them. Picard has Stubbs confined to his quarters, and Troi visits him to offer her help, but it just devolves into a discussion about how much of a self-centred twat he is. Fortunately he gets his comeuppance when the nanites screw with the electronics in his quarters and electrocute him.

Just as it looks like they'll have to resort to exterminating the nanites, Data succeeds in establishing contact with them. He allows them to inhabit his body for proper communication. While he acknowledges the risk of it, it would also be a sign of trust. Picard agrees. The nanites start to speak through Data. Long story short: they were looking for materials to continue the replication process and meant no harm, and interpreted Stubbs' actions as an attack, which only happened because the crew mistook their actions for attack, so the whole thing was just a big misunderstanding.

Stubbs apologises, they repair the damage to the core, Picard agrees to relocate the nanites to a safer space, and the experiment goes ahead as planned.

But even though this review is already long as hell, I'm still not done. I wouldn’t blame you if you just want to skip to the end at this point.

Basically, the episode loosely revolves around Wesley Crusher (when I'm done reviewing this series, I'm going to tally up the amount of episodes focused on each character, because I feel like Wesley is cropping up way more than he has any right to) and his mother's return to the ship.

Beverly is concerned about how Wesley has been progressing in her absence and whether a Federation Starship is a good environment for a teenage boy, while Wesley somewhat resents his mother for being absent - it's not her fault, dude. She was fired. Anyway, it's also shown that Wesley is working himself to the bone, subtly foreshadowed at the beginning of the episode, which implies that Wesley had fallen asleep at his desk and overslept.

Of course they manage to work out their problems with some help from Guinan, and the episode ends with Beverly happily watching her son from afar as he socialises with some other teenagers, with a girl seemingly taking a special interest in him. Let's hope that goes better than his last romance...

7/10 - A decent enough start to the new season.

Previous Episode | TNG Masterpost | Next Episode