Movie Challenge 2016

Doug Benson has the 2016 DLM Challenge: 366 movie in 366 day. Hell no. I, instead took the very basic route of 12 movies in the theater in 2016. Here's what happened:

1. Pride and Predjudice and Zombies 2/7/16
2. The Big Short 2/13/16
3. Deadpool 2/14/16 
4. Zootopia 4/5/16
5. Kung Fu Panda 3 4/5/16 ($5 drive-in double feature, bitches!)
6. Batman v. Superman: Dawn of Justice 4/17/16
7. Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping 6/5/16
8. Finding Dory 7/10/16
9. Ghostbusters 8/7/16
10. Doctor Strange 11/19/16
11. Rogue One: A Star Wars Story 12/16/16

Crap. I have two days left and I don't want to cheat. Is it cheating if I did see a movie at a theater, but the MST3K guys were talking over it? Because:
Rifftrax Live: Time Chasers 5/5/16

And the reunion show, but it was a few shorts and the cool gathering of all MST3K greats:
Rifftrax Live MST3K Reunion 6/28/16

And in the same vein, but an actual movie:
Benson Movie Interruption: The Rock 8/13/16 

Okay fine. The big guns, official movie premier:
Ear Buds: The Podcasting Documentary

I know it's my game and my rules but I still feel like I fell short. I knew I shouldn't have gotten a job. 

Celebrity Sighting #Now Hear This Fest

I just caught up on my podcasts after a month deficit. I went to Now Hear This Fest and while it was a cool experience, I was burned out on podcast festivals. Plus the schedule made me miss out on maximizing the awesome. Plus the hot chicks getting to cut the line pissed me off. And the VIP pass was irrelevant since the lines for VIP were longer than the general admission. And spending extra for VIP plus wasn't worth it. (Only difference between VIP and VIP plus was the lounge and the breakfast with podcasters. (Yes the extra special VIP lounge was cool and all, but I saw no podcasters at there.) And I had the uncomfortable feeling in the beginning that I was just a star fucker and an outsider. Yep. I have the text to my husband to prove it. (Was too nervous to approach Dino Stamatopoulos) Oh, and they added buy one get one free tickets a month before the festival. And meet and greets for everyone were added last minute. And the Nundercover posters announced at the How Did This Get Made show never made it to the merchandise table. (Wow, my ire at this festival is seriously showing) Bonus, I totally embarrassed myself in front of one of the founders of the LA Podfest by mistaking him for someone else and I still am red about it.

WITH THE EXCEPTION: I met two absolutely amazing women who in turn introduced me to a few more amazing people and I thoroughly enjoyed nerding out with them. Here is the basic list of what I saw:

Friday
Never Not Funny: Jimmy Pardo, Matt Belknap with guest John Ross Bowie. Met JRB in the VIP lounge. Such a sweetheart!

Comedy Bang! Bang!: Scott Aukerman, Jason Mantzoukas, Jon Gabrus as Gino The Intern, Paul F. Tompkins as Kent Daarvilstaow, Lauren Lapkus as Pamela from Big Bear and Andy Daly as Don DiMello
No idea what was happening, but thought it was pretty damn funny. Met Scott Aukerman at the first Meet & Greet.

The schedule was so confusing and I missed a few I did want to see (I'm sorry I Was There Too & Dear Prudence). There is no real chance to give a new podcast a chance. And I was so focused on the How Did This Get Made meet and greet, I left Doug Loves Movies early. I so had a name tag and everything.

Saturday
With Special Guest Lauren Lapkus: guests Shaun Diston & Phil Jackson. So damn funny.

Superego: Matt Gourley, Jeremy Carter, Mark McConville & Paul F. Tompkins 

Doug Loves Movie: Doug Benson, Matt Gourley, Mark McConville & Paul F. Tompkins (Listened to the end days later online.)

How Did This Get Made? Paul Scheer, June Diane Raphael, Jason Mantzoukas, and guest Hayes Davenport (Meet and Greet of course with Paul and Jason)

Sunday

Bitch Sesh: A Real Housewives Breakdown: Casey Wilson & Danielle Schneider

I was so lost, so I left and met my husband at:

Worst Idea of All Time: Guy Montgomery and Tim Batt (Foudn out about these guys at 2015 LA Podfest. Damn funny and enjoyed myself. Said hi to them on the way to the bathroom later that day.)

Spontaneanation Paul F. Tompkins and guests Kulap Vilaysack, Howard Kremer, Dan Ahdoot, Tawny Newsome & Drew Tarver 

Paul F. Tompkins was such a gracious guy and took the time to take a picture with me. He is so damn talented and I love him. And this show blew my mind.

Extra sightings: Andy Kindler, Marc Maron, Andy Dick, Dave Anthony(still blushing my embarrassment away), and Julia WD Harrison. 

It was a great time despite my grumblings. And one of my new friends has a podcasts. It is amazing and I can't wait to catch up into real time. 

 It is very likely I will not be back next year as LA Podfest has spoiled me. I didn't have to see their growing pains. But I do want to give them more of my money. And maybe volunteer next year. Yes, take my blood, sweat, tears, and cash!

Celebrity Sighting #LA Podfest 2016

I have been reduced to making a list of shows I saw and hopefully I'll remember those I ran into while going to the bathroom will pop into my head as well. I can't begin to describe my experience at Podfest this year. Know that I love these people and I had such a good time.

Friday:

Welcome to Nightvale, episode The Librarian
Cecil Baldwin & cast (I'm sorry, I don't know!)
bonus Wil Wheaton
Criminal
Phoebe Judge

Saturday: 
 
Alison Rosen is Your New Best Friend
panel including Jeff Fox
Comedy Film Nerds with Chris Mancini & Graham Elwood
guests Cecil Baldwin & Wil Wheaton
The Crabfeast with Ryan Sickler & Jay Larson
guests Welcome to Nightvale creators Joseph Fink and Jeffrey Cranor
Rooster Teeth with Gus Sorola, Burnie Burns, & Gavin Free
All Star Pod Smash
Damn blurry memory. I swear there was Ryan Sickler and April Richardson. And it was funny as hell.

Sunday:

The JV Club with Janet Varney (seriously, my new spirit guide)
Charles(Chuck) Bryant, Natalie Morales, and Timothy Omundson

Everythings Coming Up Podcast with Allie Goertz & Julia Prescott

guests Simpson writers Josh Weinstein, Matt Selman and Tim Long, 

superfans Alex Hirsch, Samm Levine and Luke McGarry

Sklarbro Country Jason & Randy Sklar & Daniel Van Kirk

guest Nick Swardson

(special appearance by Brad Morris)

Fitzdog Radio with Greg Fitzsimmons & Mike Gibbons

guest Nikki Glaser

The Mental Illness Happy Hour with Paul Gilmartin
guest Murray Valeriano

Bonus sightings:
Rob Hubel
Kevin Pollack
TJ Miller

2016 Podcast Battle

This is being written a month after coming down from my high of attending the fifth annual LA Podcast Festival. I write now because this week I will be on the road again attending Now Hear This Fest. 

I am already torn about this. When it was first announced, I was excited because it was a chance to see How Did This Get Made. Tickets always sold out so damn quickly and driving down to LA for the show seemed excessive. We were hoping for a northern California show eventually. But if an entire festival were happening and I didn't have a job? (That was a different emotional burden of how the hell would I pay for it without begging my husband for an extremely early birthday present.) Not to mention there would be meet and greet opportunities. Granted they were for "select talent" so who knows what podcast hosts would share crab cakes with me.

 I cannot wait for Jason Mantzoukas to call me a jerk in real life.

Then at LA Podfest and on Comedy Film Nerds, Chris and Graham began to make not subtle jabs at these upcoming "corporate" festivals. The meet and greets were part of a spend twice as much package. They did mention that any events that brought attention to podcasts were a good thing. Still LA Podfest was by Podcasters for Podcast fans. And it is very apparent with the casual events open for people to just mingle with other fans and casually stalk podcast celebrities. (I'm sorry DVK!)

All of this emotional torture came after I had my panic attack, but still pushed the purchase button for the Extra Special VIP tickets. But I would still get to see How Did This Get Made, Doug Loves Movies, and the various other Earwolf shows that would not be at Podfest. (Sadness.) 

For the record, I saw the most amazing podcasts and discovered new ones I had to add to my subscribe list. (Janet Varney moved from totally cool to my new spirit guide.) In addition, I met people in the podcast lab and they were so kind. One even pulled me in and asked me to be on her podcast about podcast fans. Look at me participating!

Teach me all you know!

The enthusiasm for Now Hear This Fest took a sort of decline when I saw coupon codes for tickets. I made the mistake my first year at LA Podfest that I could wait until the coupon code came out to buy tickets. There were only came out for the live stream and I waited too long and the prices went up. So to see buy one get on free code up really stung. Especially since we spent  so much extra for the Amazingly Uber VIP tickets. (Update: I just looked at the schedule and one of the podcasts I made a mental note to give a shot AND made the difficult decision to NOT go to another one is now gone from the schedule. SHIT. Starting to get upset....er.) I know I will have a good time, but I am starting to sound like a whiner. And a whiner that demands crap because I paid money. 

LA Podfest was a free for all, so if someone was there, you could approach them. The premium to hang out with people adds to my anxiety. Also if I hesitate again, I have a financial aspect to hate myself, not just the wuss factor. 

I promise that I will go and have a great time. There is no reason to take any misgivings with me. They can develop after things go wrong. And it does not help that I got a damn job and have to be back to work the next day. Damn slow vacation accrual.

License Plate Game 2016

I have a new state to curse. I am left with three, but I feel that Rhode Island is the new Delaware. Which makes more sense to me considering geography and the size of the damn state. So here is my list of shame:

Kentucky
New Hampshire
Rhode Island

I am shocked about Kentucky. And my sister and I discussed that New Hampshire was unusual to not find. I remember because I called it the Live Free or Die Hard state. She did not correct me. Then we both laughed when we realized what I said.

Celebrity Sighting #The Rock

And that was awesome. After a day touring the place itself, we enjoyed this fantastic viewing of the 20 year old(!) film.

Doug brought with him Janet Varney, Todd Barry, Jacob Sirof, and Chris Distefano. It was good times and too long since I've seen this movie. Not a hard declarations, but it's Michael Bay's best.

Pride & Obsession

I don't understand how I'm such a big fan of Pride and Prejudice and I didn't find out about this until now. I dove into The Lizzie Bennet Diaries whole heartily and was done in a few days. Like Netflix binging, I can't even imagine having to wait weeks on end to see what happens next. Though it could have been amazing to watch the whole story unfold on YouTube, Twitter, Blogs, and Tumblr and those various other social media places I have no idea about. 

 Watch this now. Work isn't that important.

Of course this goes back to my theory that anyone that portrays Darcy has an immediate 20% additional attractiveness added to him (much like a military uniform or tuxedo). This version of Darcy is my current favorite and has penetrated my brain. I went down a rabbit hole recently. Did you know that the internet is full of people writing version of their own taking these characters to new places? Turns out some of these places are a little, um, naughty.

Keeping my prude shorts on, I found myself immersed in these stories where its redone from Darcy's point of view, or seeing happily ever after for a little bit longer. I am a sucker for true love. In many different forms. And apparently the same people's true love. 

The creators of this now Emmy winning series knew to capitalize on this and came up with companion book that chronicles what Lizzie kept off the internet. Got that quickly and now at a loss for what else to do with my life. How do I keep doing this to myself?

I think this is a wonderful modernization of a story stuffed down our throats by high school English teachers. I'll admit when I was angry feminist high school me, I was too dumb to really understand the story and just blamed everything on the sexist society. Now that hormones and angst have stabilized I can admit how much I enjoy Pride and Prejudice for what it is. That and the Back Street Boys. Oh yes, Mr. Darcy, I want it that way.

List Less

As someone who, on occasion, will post the five guys she's allow to cheat on her husband with, I like to make lists. I realize that one is a fun 'To Do" list. It does come with the difficult job of filling five slots. (Okay, I'm done with the horrible innuendo. Okay, now I'm done.)

During my attempt to declutter (unclutter?), I found two lists plaguing me. The first is my top five favorite movies. Of course this list is ever changing. But I came to a very comfortable conclusion of four. The fifth one alludes me. I don't want it to just be filled with some movie I enjoyed recently. Then again, I don't watch these movies every other day and I wonder if the found memories of only a few times is clouding my judgement. This is, after all, my top five favorite movies of all time.

The hardest thing is that I put it on a Post-It and I feel as though I can't throw it out until I can complete the list. That said, I need to stop the crazy when I can. Here are my top four favorite movies. Number one is my claimed favorite and the rest are in release date order.

1) Hot Fuzz
2) Tropic Thunder
3) The Cabin in the Woods
4) The Lego Movie

Interestingly, I thought of two movies I might want to add as I typed this. The recent "cloud my judgement" movie Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and Much Ado About Nothing (2012). For the latter, I skip so much of it and get to the parts I love. That can't be criteria for favorite. I do that with shitty romantic movies, so why does this one stand out? The stellar cast? The amazing use of Shakespearean language in modern times? My evolving crush on Fran Kranz? The concern that the first time I saw it, I feared Joss Whedon would change the story and kill some people? (Definitely not that one.)

For now I leave number five blank and see what my memory bring back to me, or what Hollywood brings to me.

Now as for my to do list, many, many years ago (2011ish?), I starting making a list of movies I had to see.

1) Hannah
2) Sunshine
3) Kiss Kiss Bang Bang
4) The Cabin in the Woods
5) The Raid: Redemption
6) Tucker & Dale vs. Evil
7) Friends With Kids
8) 21 Jump Street
9) Moneyball
10) Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol
11) Captain America: The First Avenger
12) There Will Be Blood
13) No Country For Old Men

I have seen all but one. After finally forcing myself to see No Country For Old Men, I now have the dread of homework with There Will Be Blood. It was on Nextflix for a while and I still couldn't pull the trigger. I've had bad luck with Oscar movies. I will see it though, damn it.

And then there will be a new list that develops. But it will be in head. Because as I stare at this Post-It and scrap paper with letterhead of a job I left two years ago with an address that is no longer correct, I know not to bind myself anymore. I have not crossed off one list nor finished writing the other. They will go into the paper recycling (hippie, I know) as I move on. And then I will watch Two Weeks Notice for the first time (please don't ask).

Top Five Fears

High Fidelity was and still is a favorite movie of mine. It may be difficult to watch again since it is over fifteen years old, but so much still resonates with me. Right now, I have this going through my brain:

“You’re making something. You – the critic, the professional appreciator – put something new into the world. And the second one of those things gets sold, you’re officially a part of it.”

I have been bouncing back and forth with an idea for a podcast. It won't change the world. In fact because my expectations are so low, it won't really do anything. But it will be for fun, for me, and be put out into the world. Eventually. Now I just need to get my ideas on paper and my voice on tape. Or digital tape. Wish me luck.

Celebrity Sighing #For Van Gogh!

So it finally happened and The Film Vault had their live show. Hell yeah, I was going to go and represent the 8%. And I decided to spend extra for the VIP experience. This led me to finally getting to meet Anderson and Logan. Bryan was also there, but between Laughs For Bald Bryan, the numerous live Adam Carolla Shows, and his book signing, he is safely crossed off my list. 

Oh man, I can safely say that Anderson has no on mic persona. He is chatty and brash and it was great to meet him. He was even concerned that he insulted me and backpedaled and apologized as if I was a faceless listener. It was interesting but also made me like him more. The episode will come out as a premium one eventually and I will happily purchase it. 

The TCL Chinese Theater is beautiful and it would be amazing to see a movie there again. I did see Panic Room years ago, but that's what happens when you don't live there. I did get start struck by the set up for the new Alice in Wonderland premier even though it was empty of celebrities, but full of tourists. It is sort of fun, but it dies down quickly when you get struck by stick shock next. All in all, I had a wonderful time and even got to meet Miss Movies 2.0. Yeah, good times.

Celebrity Sighting #Sketchfest 2016

(Note: This post was started on February 21, 2016 and was finished on April 25, 2016.)

I almost cried this year. I laughed a lot, of course but this year was something a bit more.

Naturally, I immensely enjoyed myself while watching The Walhberg Solution unfold before my lucky eyes. Solving the world's problems with Mark were Tom Leykis (James Adomian), Macklemore (Jon Daly), Erica Rhodes, and Michael Caine (Kenny Stevenson).

You're welcome.

Watching SklarBro Country(County) with again a slew of personalities, mainly Nicolas Cage (Kenny Stevenson) working up the crowd was a sight to behold. I recommend you subscribe and get access to these two podcasts immediately.

And a bonus Moshe Kasher.

The big deal this is year was seeing Dr. Katz live. When sitting in the front row of this show I was able to pinpoint my love of comedy came from this man and his animated show. The introduction of so many brilliant comedic minds and their hilarious bits was the beginning for me. And to see live the banter between him and his son (H John Benjamin) and his patients brought in my his assistant Laura(Laura Silverman) was such a treat.

Then there were the actual patients: Janeane Garofalo, Andy Kindler, Maria Bamford, The Sklar Brothers, and surprise guest Zach Galifianakis. It was an amazing moment and I was truly sad when his trademark music came to tell us that time was up. Thank you Dr. Katz.

And thank you Twitter.

Don't Go Breaking My Darcy

I have been stuck in bed with a back problem. I am grateful I can make it to and from the bathroom by my own power. Most people would consider days in bed with a phone a vacation, but all I could think was this was going to make the rest of my body suck as much as my back.

I have no new ideas and do not like to venture out into finding new entertainment that could potentially be a waste of my time. That said, I went back into the realm of the 1995 BBC mini series Pride and Prejudice on a tiny screen on YouTube. That was followed by clips galore of the 2005 movie version. I did brave the theater months ago to be one of the five people that saw Pride and Prejudice and Zombies. I also happen to have a parallel obsession with the movie Austenland. 

Yes, I have a non back problem as well. I refer to this as my Lady Porn. You see the slow burn of a blossoming romance and like Jaws, your imagination fills in the blanks better than the production can. Granted, I hated this book in high school because I missed the point. I was angry feminist chick and any of this crap about marriage and a woman's place needed to be shut down. Now I am a card carrying member of the Darcy Fan Club. I just happen to like Matthew Macfadyen's portray the best. 

Don't get me wrong, he's hot too.

The marketing of this version is not the best and my first viewing did not give me a good impression. They watered down the asshole aspects of Mr. Darcy and instead made him just quiet but misunderstood. If he existed in modern high school, his only flaw would be resting bitch face. I related to that whole-heartily.

I did find some other Austen knock offs and managed to get through a Mormon infused version. You'd think it would work given it's Austen translated to modern times, but it was pretty terrible. Don't get me started on the Hallmark flavor taking place in the backdrop of dog shows. 

Here is the most important lesson: putting together YouTube clips and saying you watched a movie is no way to go through life. Also, if you are over thirty, don't sleep on an air mattress.

Maurice Damon, Space Cowboy

Of course this is not a comedy. There was too much of the budget spent on action sequences to make this a comedy. The dialogue with funny parts had to keep us from killing ourselves. Which is how I felt when I watched Gravity. Sorry Academy, except I'm not.

There is an extra layer of hilarity of The Martian, though. It isn't very creative, but much like how in (spoiler!) Interstellar, I had to stop myself from screaming MATT DAMON! when he was on the screen, I had this in my head the whole time. (In a semi-related note, I asked my niece if she had seen Interstellar and she asked if that was the one with Matt Damon. I paused and decided that I would attempt to preserve the Matt Damon in this movie and said you're thinking of Matthew McConaughey. He also cannot have his name said correctly and it came out as McConaugHAAAAY!)

 

Gets me every time.

Yes, I am a child and think of Team America whenever I see Matt Damon. If you see him on Jimmy Kimmel Live, you know he has a very good sense of humor. However, if I ever see the man in person and I scream without thinking, he has every right to punch me in the face.

Big Old Jet Airliner

In an attempt to be okay with getting on a plane, I reminded myself that I successfully flew to celebrate my niece's graduation on the other side of the country not too long ago and the trip was well beyond worth it. I had the idea floating in my head that I love my family more than I hate flying.

I test that again tomorrow and I have to remind myself that I love my best friend and her family more than I hate flying. I need to get away every once in a while. I was crying due to the stress of being sick and leaving my comfy space. Also, I hate leaving behind my beloved dog. I then though of my best friend leaving behind her childhood state and her family to start a new life in a more affordable place to raise her family. I need to grow up for a few days and remember the sting of travel does not compare to the joy of being together. And I should not puke when I see the huge house she can afford.

While battling this crap, it occurred to me that it is dangerous having so much importance wrapped up into so few things in my life. "Eggs in basket" as my husband pointed out. He, of course is one of the main eggs. I have to find this balance of reaching out to get more in my life and not running overboard to be an idiot that wants to master all the things. For now, I just need to pack and get to the airport in one piece.

My Heart Hurts RIP Alan Rickman

Sort of feels like it was cut out with a spoon. 

When I mentioned at work that Alan Rickman died, my coworkers did not know who I was talking about. Then one piped up and asked if it was "the Snape guy". Another started to talk about how she "didn't care about the Snape guy" but was really sad about David Bowie. 

I hurt when I heard about David Bowie. My favorite song to this day is Under Pressure. I was going to say it takes me back to an earlier time, but that isn't the whole truth. My best friend introduced me to that song in high school and I foolish thought why Ice, Ice, Baby sounded funny. Now when I listen to it, it grounds me in the moment with the beat, the vocals, and the way it demands that I belt it out with my whole self. 

 Enjoy.

To hear Alan Rickman died the same age from the same ailment made me feel vulnerable. I did admit that it doesn't affect me and I know that on an intellectual level. Then I selfishly began to think about how my traditional Christmas viewing of Die Hard will be tarnished. Gun on plane, smoking in airport, $.79 for a gallon of premium gas are amusing, but no more new art from the brilliant man that embodied Hans Gruber, the Sheriff of Nottingham, Colonel Brandon, Alexander Dane, (and yes, Snape) and so many more that I am bound to forget now, but my soul remembers.

Say hi to God for me.

For those of you that have not seen these characters, I pity and envy you. Discover them and enjoy the talent of this amazing performer.