"Roseanne - Tricks & Treats" DVD Showcases the Series' Annual Halloween Episodes

The long running comedy series Roseanne served up annual Halloween themed episodes featuring dark humor and the hilarious passive aggressive nature of Roseanne (Roseanne Barr) and Dan (John Goodman), who loved the hi-jinks more than their children. Eight Halloween centric episodes are included on Roseanne - Tricks & Treats, from "Boo!," which features Roseanne and Dan trying to out scare each other, to "Satan, Darling," which is a spoof of the classic horror film Rosemary's Baby, complete with a variety of guest stars, including Marlo Thomas and Arianna Huffington.

Not every episode was scary or sinister. For instance, "Trick or Treat" tackles gender issues, as DJ (Michael Fishman) wants to dress up as a witch for Halloween, much to the dismay of Dan. Meanwhile, Roseanne dresses as a man and gets into trouble, as usual, at the Lobo Lounge. Similar themes arise in "Skeleton in the Closet," when Roseanne's boss, Leon (Martin Mull), suggests that Jackie's boyfriend, Fred (Michael O'Keefe), is gay. Of course, it is Halloween after all, but Roseanne does not suspect that this may a prank, until the unforgettable final scene. Roseanne's mom, Bev (Estelle Parsons), is especially funny in this episode. The best Halloween episode, in my opinion, is "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down." Roseanne and Dan may have gone too far when they play a nasty prank on their neighbor, Kathy, who appears genuinely upset. Roseanne then spends the rest of the night worried about payback from Kathy.

The costumes in many episodes were inspired. For instance, Dan dressing up as The Three Stooges, DJ playing Hannibal Lecter, Dan and Roseanne spoofing Edgar Bergen and Charlie McCarthy, and when Bev scares everyone with her "wig," which prompts an unexpected scene featuring many of the cast members, who try once again to outdo the crafty Roseanne. I also enjoyed the plethora of Halloween decorations that could be seen in any given episode, whether at the Connor house, the lodge, or at the restaurant. That attention to detail made the episodes even more entertaining.

Roseanne - Tricks & Treats (Mill Creek) features eight episodes from the series, as well as commentary by Roseanne herself on the classic "Trick Me Up, Trick Me Down." The DVD is perfect for those viewers who like Halloween, but do not enjoy being scared. Of course, you may laugh until you scream, so be prepared anyway.

"I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of The Music Video Revolution"



 

I still want my MTV, but I would prefer music videos to be the focus of the cable network once again, instead of reality programs and scripted series (although Teen Wolf is awesome). MTV made its way into my hometown shortly after its inception, in 1981. For many years I was hooked on the cable giant, like so many other youngsters at that time, and have fond memories of the salad days of music videos. The recently updated book I Want My MTV: The Uncensored Story of The Music Video Revolution (Plume), by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks, details the early days of the network up through the early 1990's when The Real World began to change MTV forever.

The story of MTV is told by the employees of the company, both in front of and behind the camera, as well as a plethora of musicians and other music industry professionals. Every chapter features commentary from various individuals who offer fascinating insight into the ups and downs that the network experienced during its first groundbreaking decade. From the early days when European bands, including Culture Club, A Flock of Seagulls, The Eurythmics, etc, dominated the landscape, to the early 1990's, when original programming began to become the rule and not the exception, the tumultuous history of the network is examined.

The cast of characters who lend their insight include former VJ's (Alan Hunter, Martha Quinn, Adam Curry, Pauly Shore), executives (Bob Pittman, Les Garland), video directors (John Landis, David Fincher) and, of course, musicians (Duran Duran, Cyndi Lauper, Heart, Def Leppard and many more). The comments are unfiltered, which is refreshing and often hilariously frank, including a few remarks about Madonna, Dee Snider and Billy Squier that may have you laughing out loud. Some of the criticism leveled towards artists, such as Journey, was curious. Journey's video for "Separate Ways" was denounced by several interviewees because it was so poorly executed. At the time, I did not see anything wrong with the video, because of my age and the fact that "Separate Ways" is my all-time favorite Journey song. However, if I would watch the video today, I may feel differently about the band playing "air" instruments. I was also surprised to learn about the impact of Billy Squier's much maligned "Rock Me Tonite" video, which I remember, but did not think it was that bad either. However, Squier's decision to dance around in a pink shirt apparently led to the downfall of his career!

A good deal of attention is paid to the original VJ's and their predecessors, who were far more controversial, as well as future MTV personalities, including Cindy Crawford and Dan Cortese. In addition, I was fascinated to learn about the downfall of some artists, including Joe Jackson, who resisted the video medium and their careers suffered greatly as a result. A few interesting chapters discuss the emergence of black artists, namely Michael Jackson, and the eventual inclusion of rap music, which came to be very lucrative for MTV. Another controversial topic, the exploitation of female artists, includes several candid and eye-opening observations.

Legendary artists, including Van Halen, Madonna, Bruce Springsteen, and Michael Jackson helped MTV achieve great success (and vice versa) in the mid 1980's. Many anecdotes concerning Van Halen's partying escapades (specifically "The Lost Weekend" contest), Springsteen's dislike of the video medium and the power that Madonna and Michael Jackson had over the network, make for interesting reading. Of course, MTV had its share of controversy too, courtesy of racy videos, outspoken artists and pressure from the Parents Music Resource Center, which was successful in labeling music with warnings about sexual and/or drug related lyrics/content. In addition, the stories about what happened during the network's Spring Break specials are jaw dropping.

The early days of pop and rock, the hair metal craze, the emergence of rap and alternative music, and the eventual turn towards original programming are all a part of MTV's never boring history. While the behavior of some artists is not necessarily surprising, some executives gave them a run for their money with their partying ways. Indeed, there was a lot of sex and drugs with the rock and roll and much of it is exposed in the 500 plus pages of I Want My MTV. This insightful and entertaining effort allows readers to add a new layer of perspective to how the cable giant formed and operated during its historic first decade plus on the air. It is an amazing story of survival, which could not have happened without the numerous creative influences that forever changed the music industry and popular culture.

"Supernatural: Rite of Passage" by John Passarella - Based on the Hit Television Series

The latest adventure featuring demon hunters Sam and Dean Winchester is chronicled in the recently released book Supernatural: Rite of Passage (Titan Books), by John Passarella. Based on The CW hit series, Supernatural: Rite of Passage is the latest in an ongoing series of books to feature the Winchester brothers, along with their friend Bobby, as they face demons and other malevolent beings. In "Rite of Passage," the brothers find themselves battling an oni, a being who wields immense power and appears to be unstoppable. The novel is set during the seventh season of the series, before Bobby "dies," and incorporates plot lines from the show, including Sam's ongoing hallucinations (or are they?) of Lucifer.

In Laurel Hill, New Jersey, a series of strange deaths and unexplained disasters batter the small town, after the arrival of a being known as an oni, who displays a commanding, if odd, physical presence. Sporting a bowler hat and cane, the oni uses its third eye and powers of concentration to wreck havoc on innocent citizens. While much of the carnage is just for his own amusement, the oni has a goal in mind that he has waited almost two decades to bring to fruition. Indeed, this is not the first time that the being has been in Laurel Hill and his past deeds have produced three potential allies, who he hopes to utilize to complete a ritual that also requires a female host and will give them all incredible power.

After dealing with a group of Harpies, Sam, Dean and Bobby are made aware of the events occurring in New Jersey and decide to make the journey without any hesitation. Before they leave, Bobby contacts a former hunter, Roy, who lives in the area, to ask about setting up a base of operations. Roy reluctantly agrees to put the trio up, but does not want anything to do with their mission, having already lost a great deal during his days battling demons. Despite Bobby's knowledge and Sam's investigative skills, the trio do not seem to know how to defeat the oni, so they find themselves having to improvise, but also receive help from an unexpected source.

Fans of the Supernatural television series will likely enjoy Rite of Passage, which not only features the beloved characters, but also perfectly captures the mood of the series. In addition, Dean, Sam and Bobby are written in a way that is consistent with their characters, including their way of speaking and use of humor. That consistency is one of the reasons why the book is so enjoyable to read. The nearly 400 pages allow for the development of a large number of characters, including the three young men who are called upon by the oni to help in his mission. While there is never any doubt about the general outcome of the story, John Passarella has crafted an interesting, intelligent and often exciting effort that also utilizes the dark humor that is a trademark of the long running series. Scary good.

Heart Delivers Their Signature Rockers and Ballads on "Fanatic"

Photo credits: Sony Legacy/Miles High

Sisters Ann and Nancy Wilson made a fresh start with Heart two years ago with the release of Red Velvet Car and while they are moving forward, they clearly have not forgotten their roots. The band's latest release, Fanatic (Legacy), sounds fresh and contemporary, but long time fans will notice an appreciation for Heart's early releases from the 1970's. For instance, the titular song is all about keeping your love alive in an increasingly pessimistic world and a similar theme can be found on selections from the 1977 release Little Queen. In addition, revisiting the past is the subject of the ballad "Rock Deep (Vancouver)," which delves into the inspiration for "Dreamboat Annie," the title song from Heart's debut album, in 1976. The song is beautifully written and Ann's vocals are as pure as ever.

Speaking of which, how does Heart seem to defy the passage of time? The Wilson sisters are still touring regularly, they are creating interesting original material and Ann's amazing vocals still have the power to send chills up my spine. Their originality is expressed on "Mashallah!," a rocking effort with supernatural overtones (Mashallah can be interpreted as God's will) that is also part love song. The aforementioned title song is another key rock track, while "Skin and Bones" and "Corduroy Road" are more blues based, and the ballads "Pennsylvania" and "Walkin' Good" are pop and folk efforts, respectively, that help to even out the mood. Nancy Wilson assumes lead vocals on "Walkin' Good," with guest Sarah McLachlan, which speaks of overcoming the past and finding the strength to move on. Nancy's positive attitude is admirable and she always sings like she means exactly what the songs are trying to convey. Another key track is the somber "Dear Old America," which Ann and Nancy wrote for their father, a former veteran. The song details the often difficult experiences of a soldier returning home from war.

The most startling aspect of Fanatic are the eclectic musical trappings. Indeed, a variety of instruments and sounds ensure that no two songs are similar, which is refreshing, not to mention rare, and expresses the continuing creativity of the band. In addition to Nancy's always phenomenal guitar work, the band utilizes the banjo, viola and violin on various tracks. Producer Ben Mink, who is also credited as a co-writer on all ten tracks, has helped Heart create one of their most original efforts to date and also plays various instruments, including guitar, on every track. Overall, Fanatic does not hit a single false note and is an appropriate title that the band's long time fans can relate to and that new listeners may be calling themselves once they have listened to Heart's latest effort. Finally, Heart has been around for 35 plus years (I have been a devoted fan for 25 years) and I am constantly amazed at how the group evolves and continues to cement their legacy as one of the best, albeit underrated, bands of all time.

"House of Dark Shadows" and "Night of Dark Shadows" Arrive on Blu-ray and DVD October 30

Photo and information courtesy of Warner Home Video

Rejoice, night creatures! Drafting off Dark Shadows, the 2012 horror-comedy film directed by Tim Burton, and just in time for Halloween, two Gothic fan favorites, House of Dark Shadows (1970) and the sequel, Night of Dark Shadows (1971), creep onto Blu-ray and DVD October 30 from Warner Home Video. Based on Dark Shadows, the popular occult soap opera that originally aired weekdays on ABC from June 1966 to April 1971, both films have maintained a loyal cult following since their original release.

House of Dark Shadows features the talents of Jonathan Frid ("Dark Shadows," "Seizure," "The Devil’s Daughter"), best known for his role as the vampire Barnabas Collins in the original TV series, Grayson Hall (TV’s “One Life to Live,” “All My Children”) and Kathryn Leigh Scott ("Dark Shadows," "Parasomnia," TV’s “Huff”). In this film expansion, Vampire Barnabas Collins searches for a cure so he can marry the lovely woman who resembles his long-lost fiancée Josette.

Night of Dark Shadows, the sequel to House of Dark Shadows, centers on the story of Quentin Collins and his bride, Tracy, at the Collinwood Mansion in Collinsport, Maine. David Selby ("Dark Shadows," "The Social Network," "Inhale"), Lara Parker (TV’s “Dark Shadows,” “Dark Shadows,” “Race with the Devil”), John Karlen (TV’s “Dark Shadows,” “Cagney & Lacey”), Kate Jackson (TV’s “Scarecrow and Mrs. King,” “Charlie's Angels”), Grayson Hall (TV’s “One Life to Live,” “All My Children”) and Nancy Barrett (TV’s “Dark Shadows,” “Ryan’s Hope”) star.

"House of Dark Shadows" and "Night of Dark Shadows" Arrive on Blu-ray and DVD October 30, just in time Halloween!

Weekend Box Office Report: September 28-30, 2012

Photo Credit: Sony Pictures

The family friendly Hotel Transylvania (Sony/Columbia) topped the weekend box office and far outpaced its nearest competitor, the sci-fi thriller Looper (Sony/TriStar). Hotel Transylvania earned almost $43.0 million, more than doubling Looper's take of $20.8 million. The weekend's other new major release, Won't Back Down (Fox) was dead on arrival. The film earned a paltry $2.6 million in over 2,500 theaters, for an tenth place finish. In Contrast, Pitch Perfect (Universal), which opened in limited release, nabbed over $5.0 million, and landed in sixth place.

Here are the Top Ten Weekend Films (numbers are in millions):

1. Hotel Transylvania (pictured above) - $42.5

2. Looper - $20.8

3. End of Watch - $7.8

4. Trouble with the Curve - $7.3

5. House at the End of the Street - $7.2

6. Pitch Perfect - $5.1

7. Finding Nemo 3D - $4.0

8. Resident Evil: Retribution - $3.0

9. The Master - $2.7

10. Won't Back Down - $2.6

Celebrating Halloween All Month Long......Again!

Time really does fly! For the fifth consecutive year, PopCultureGuy will be celebrating Halloween all month long. Look for many Halloween related posts over the next 31 days that I hope will encourage readers to get into the spirit of the season, which marks the beginning of my favorite time of the year. Expect posts on current movies, books, DVDs, television series and a few special entries. I hope you enjoy reading the posts as much as I enjoy writing them.