Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales: "The Blind Chicken"

Here's the second installment of Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales, "The Blind Chicken." Story aside, this one has a particularly creepy aura to it, mostly due to the lighting which gives Mr. Mike's eyes an almost three-dimensional effect. Creepier still is the audience's decidedly hesitant response to this one, as though they're reluctant to condone this sort of thing, lest it encourage Mr. Mike to create more Least-Loved Bedtime Tales. In spite of the audience's reaction, there would be many more tales to come.

Enjoy. Click on the image to watch the video.

Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales: "The Enchanted Thermos"

Michael O'Donoghue, for those of you not familiar with this site, is a personal hero of mine: first as a writer for the National Lampoon (1970-1973), and then as a writer and performer on the first three seasons of Saturday Night Live.

During SNL's second and third seasons, O'Donoghue was featured in "Mr. Mike's Least-Loved Bedtime Tales," in which, as his evil alter-ego, Mr. Mike (though he uses his full name for the first installment), he goes a few steps beyond the Brothers Grimm, to say the least. These bedtime tales have no moral (and, some would argue, no point), but I think they're all timeless classics.

"The Enchanted Thermos" was the very first in the series. Hope you enjoy it.

Click on the image to view it.

StSander's Masterpiece?

Now that StSander's "Shreds" series can no longer be found on YouTube, I thought it imperative to upload what I feel is his masterpiece, Yngwie Malmsteen Shreds.

Here, StSanders takes it to the next level, overdubbing not only Yngwie's performance, but also that of the New Japan Philharmonic (along with some of the best muttered asides since Grendel). You're sure to recognize many of the familiar musical themes as well.

What more can I say? Enjoy the hell out of this, kids!

Click on the image to view it.

- Humorless Metalheads Shut Down Popular YouTuber [Wired]

Tribute to Get Crazy, Pt. 2: A Drummer Named Toad

In this scene from Get Crazy, John Densmore, playing a drummer named Toad, performs a rather wild drum solo.

Now, I know what you're thinking: "Wait a minute. John Densmore? As in The Doors' John Densmore? But Gene, I thought you hated the Doors! Is this the end of all that mankind holds dear??"

OK, cool your jets there, Chauncey. Yes, he did play drums for that....group. But I believe in giving credit where credit is due. This is a hilarious performance, possibly the funniest drum solo ever.

So sit back (not too far back; it's only 40 seconds long) and enjoy this clip.

Click on the image to view it.

Tribute to Get Crazy, Pt. 1:"A Deathbed Request"

In 1983, an extremely significant musical comedy was released entitled Get Crazy. It remains significant not for it's acting or writing, but for its cast: predominantly rock stars and actors portraying rock stars. Among them is Lou Reed, the members of Fear, Malcolm McDowell playing a Mick Jagger-type singer, as well as cameos from Fabian, Bobby Freeman, Howard Kaylan and others.

The story concerns the owner of the Saturn Theater, one Max Wolfe. Max has a heart attack while organizing the Saturn's New Year's Eve celebration and, fearing this year may be his last, decides to make this celebration a major blowout. To this end, he contacts a faded rock star known only as Auden to appear at the Saturn. Auden hasn't left his apartment for 6 years (his apartment being an exact replica of the cover of Bob Dylan's Bringing It All Back Home).

In this first installment, all of the Lou Reed scenes have been spliced together apart from the closing number (I'll get to that later).

Click on the image to view it. Enjoy.

This May Be The Funniest Thing Ever

There's a guy on YouTube who goes by the name of StSanders. He has created a number of hilarious videos featuring numerous guitar heroes with his own sound overdubbed. My friend, David Stiles, turned me on to these; it's his fault. I'll say no more, other than StSanders (or whoever he really is) is possibly the greatest comedic genius of the past 20 years. Or maybe I'm just easily amused. But, c'mon, can't it be both?

This particular video features Jake E. Lee and Ozzy Osbourne, but he has dozens more, and I would highly recommend checking those out as well.

Click on the image to view it.

[UPDATE: Apparently, StSanders has been banned from YouTube, so this is the only video of his available at this point. Hopefully, this will be resolved soon. I stand by my earlier assessment of his comic genius. YouTube needs to get a sense of humor.]

Distant Memories of Cop Rock

For reasons too complicated to explain, I was asked to find old clips of the notorious 1990 Steven Bochco flop, Cop Rock. Although the show itself still doesn't quite hold up after all these years, some of the songs, strangely enough, do.

Though I can't fully set this one up, having never seen this episode, it goes something like this:

A young couple, apparently having trouble conceiving a baby of their own, and having exhausted all legitimate forms of adoption, stumble across a man who calls himself the "Baby Merchant." And - wouldn't you know it? - he has own song. And it's a damn catchy one to boot.

Is the story ridiculous? Yes. But if after hearing this song a few times, you won't admit to singing it to yourself at least once or twice, then I have no choice but to call you a liar.

That's right, I'm throwing down the musical gauntlet on this one.

Click on the image to watch the clip.