Episode 275: Shout-outs, movies (Bet: Sarah Palin: You Betcha; Sherlock Holmes, Stennie: The Life of Reilly), Hucklebug Picks the Preakness Winner, What’s Up With That?, New Favorite, Bet’s Generic Review, Videos of the Week, Bet’s Freak-Out of the Week, Fuck Offs and You Rules, Best Cameo Appearances.
“The Hucklebuck,” performed by Sierra Rein, Lee Rocker and Frank Sinatra. “Movies” bumper by Duke, “New Favorite” bumper by Krizzer.
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I enjoy your generic reviews, Bet! You might think about starting a new blog with just generic product reviews on it. You could call it “The United States of Generica Blog”. 🙂
I loved the cameo segment, however, I think the word “cameo” has a much more specific and limited definition. I’ve always thought of a cameo as someone famous (or otherwise significant) appearing in the background or having just one line of dialogue and little more. I was curious, so I checked out the Wikipedia page for “cameo”: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Cameo_appearance In a nutshell, a cameo is “a brief appearance of a known person in a work of the performing arts, such as plays, films, video games and television, often appearing as themselves.”
The Wikipedia page also says: “A cameo should not be confused with a guest appearance…”
So, I’m thinking things like what Hitchcock used to do, or Rex Reed’s appearance in the 1979 “Superman” movie, or Tattoo from Fantasy Island showing up in the “I need a little breather” scene in “Airplane 2” or even the Marvel comics movies that have short scenes at the end where other Marvel characters have a short scene. Sammy Davis Jr on “All in the Family” is definitely a guest appearance. If he appeared in one scene as a rabbi or something, then I’d agree, but, he guest stars in that ep. Going by your definition of a cameo, I’d have to say my favorite cameo would be my own appearance on the Hucklebug where I appeared first as the British newspaper vendor who sold Keifer Sutherland a magazine. 🙂 Going by the Wikipedia definition, I’d have to say… I don’t know. I can’t think of one that was particularly good. I know I have one in my head someplace, but I can’t think of it. All that’s coming to mind is Daft Punk’s cameo in “Tron Legacy” which was cute, but when they cut to them for the third time, lost its charm. Maybe the appearance of Pac-Man in the original “Tron”?
I enjoyed “The Third Man” just fine, before Orson shows up. Not brilliant, but entertaining.
AH! Yes! Stan Lee shows up in pretty much every Marvel comic movie ever and I love them all. My favorite was his cameo in “Captain America”. Though, his appearance in “The Trial of the Incredible Hulk” TV movie was pretty hilarious because he plays a juror who almost dies when Banner Hulks out on the stand (it was a dream sequence). Can’t believe I wouldn’t have thought of his cameos unless you mentioned him, Bet! Thank you!
Also, Neil deGrasse Tyson signed my iPad. He runs the Hayden Planetarium and writes books. Siskita and I saw him talk at the American Museum of Natural History about how the space program is dead in the water short of a new cold-war-ish type of threat. He’s great to listen to and he makes science soooo accessible. There are loads of clips with him on the YouTube. Check him out and you will be glad, Bet!! It was an honor to shake his hand.
No stinger…
Every week I think “I won’t have much to say in this week’s comment” and then I do. Sorry…
A good cameo, off the top of my head, is Barry Levinson as Dennis, the truculent, newsprint-wielding bellhop from “High Anxiety”: “Here’s your paper! Here’s your paper! Happy now?! Happy?! Huh!”
Just as a little added-value callback to last week’s discussion of parodies, that scene is a textbook example of a work that would be protected as a parody because of the way it quotes the original work (it matches Psycho’s shower sequence shot for shot and cut for cut) as a way of commenting on (or in this case lampooning) the original.
A bit behind, as usual — howdy! Nicholas says hi, too. He wants to hear more Scooby Doo on the podcast, and in general. You meddlesome kids!
Yes, even with my poor math skills, I still did accounting at our old job. Wasn’t by choice and I protested the whole time when a certain boss of ours wanted me to do it. Thank God for Quickbooks! I eventually forgave him because apparently he felt I could do the job, so I guess sometimes you need people to give you that extra push to fulfill your potential. That’s my definition of living outside your comfort zone.
Hope everyone had a great Memorial Day Weekend!
Good show, ladies! Thanks for the review of Life of Reilly, Stennie. I’ve had it in my queue-ee-eu-ee-eu for a while, but haven’t watched it yet. Loved the cameo topic, but I also am unsure of the parameters. I agree with Mr. Middlebrow about Barry Levinson in “High Anxiety” — an hysterical moment in an hilarious movie! Strangely, two quite mainstream performances came to my mind. First, I really appreciated Tom Cruise’s appearance in Tropic Thunder, and second, I remember Brad Pitt’s guest appearance on Friends back when he and Jen were still together. He played a character that used to be fat in high school and Rachel wouldn’t talk with him. Years later, he’s a gorgeous guy who is out for revenge by humiliating her. Not the most original idea, but a memorable performance all the same.
Hello! Greetings from London……….actually, that’s a lie. We’re not in London. We WISH we were in London for the Queen’s Jubilee, especially the tall ships parade but alas we will watch BBC America’s coverage. Happy Birthday to Janet on Tuesday!! We’re going to the theatre tomorrow night to see “The Musical of Musicals: The Musical!” With you always joking about the future Hucklebug the Musical episode, I thought you would appreciate that title. Have you heard of it?
I have to agree with Bet on Sarah Palin: You Betcha. However, watching her show on one of those HI/Discovery/TLC networks was a real toot. She is funny in the way Lucille Ball could be funny on TV then a raging bitch at home. The ONLY part I truly enjoyed about the show was the “cameo” of Kate Plus Eight and Kate’s Meltdown Royale. As always, the kids were fine, but Kate… whined, bitched, complained until someone took her for a pedicure and a warm blanket. I think that cameo was the eye-opener for TLC in thinking, “Do we reaaaaaly want our name on a raging, lunatic, see-you-next-Tuesday?” Palin watched her leave and then laughed until she almost peed at what a “darn ninny” Kate was about being outside. I suggest that episode for that reason only. Listening in tonight, and will be officially caught up at the 24-and-counting to Epic Episode 300.