Adult Swim’s Dana Snyder and FRED’s Ken Plume set out to have a literate conversation between two pals, but inevitably devolve into a verbal, and funny, free-for-all full of bickering, infighting, and the special kind of male bonding that comes from conflict expressed through the podcast medium. This, dear friends, is the online experience!
Ken: I used to have a Santa Claus kit. Dana: What do you mean kit? Ken: You ready for this? This may be the story that ends the podcast. Dana: O.K. I'm frightened. Continue.
Finally, you could check out: KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #26: The Bunny Hop. On this episode the boys spoke at length about a series of LPs that Dana was collecting which featured celebrities of a bygone era in an acting game called Co-Stars. The record contained acting scenes with the featured celebrity and then dead air that you would fill, giving you a chance to "act" opposite them.
The archives are full of stuff to pass our time... but let's all hope for a new episode sooner than later.
Released at the end of January of this year, it was an instant classic that reminded us all of Chicken in a Biskit:
The cracker talk was so great it overshadowed another wonderful moment. Ken's nickname for Dana:
Dana: Ken Plume had a classic Ken Plume moment of being Ken Plume. Andy Sipes and I talked about it at great legnth. Ken: That's kind of sad, but go on! Dana: You're a spin doctor! Ken: This is all you had to talk about? Dana: You're a spin doctor! Let's redo the conversation. 'Hello?' You called me on the phone. I said 'hello?' Then you say… Ken: I say 'Howdy Scooch.' Dana: Not like that! Ken: Yes. Dana: No! Alright, I'll do it all. You're not playing along. What's new. Ken: That's what I said! Howdy Scooch. That's what I said. Dana: Yeah, but you didn't say it like that! (Imitates Ken) 'howdy Scooch.' You said 'howdy Scooch!' I said 'wow, getting awfully flirty…' Then the insecurity took over in Ken Plume. (Imitates Ken) 'Why, what do you mean? I wasn't flirting. That was a nickname, it's not like I called you peaches!'
Do you remember the Lorne Micheals Post SNL show "The New Show"?
I sure don't, but Ken Plume does:
According to Wiki:
The New Show was a NBC sketch comedy show produced by Saturday Night Live creator Lorne Michaels, which ran for only one season from January 6 to March 23, 1984. Apart from being 60 minutes in length and entirely pre-recorded, the show is similar in format to SNL. It was the lowest rated of 94 programs that aired during the 1983-84 television season, averaging a dismal 7.81 household rating.
Luckily, YouTube has some clips. Let's take a look:
Back in early 2009, in KEN P.D. SNYDECAST #83: We Are Mighty, Dana talks about an unsuccesful trip to a Georgia restaurant owned by wrestler Abdullah the Butcher.
Dana says the restaurant had closed down and a new establishment had taken it's place.
An internet search reveals 3 different addresses for Abdullah's so it's possible that he had more than one location or that the internet has some bad info.
Either way, Abdullah's is still open at 2387 Fairburn Rd SW Atlanta, GA 30331. You can call 'em at 404-629-2332 and check!
Abdullah the Butcher is a legend in pro wrestling circuits, and in 1 week he will be inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame. Abdullah was famous for his crazy, blood soaked matches. He was known to bring a fork into the ring and use it to carve up his opponent.
The restaurant is a cafe setting with photos of the Abdullah hung on the walls. In addition, two of his title belts also hang in the dining area. But, the best part about the restaurant is Abdullah.
On most days Abdullah sits in the dining area and answers questions and poses for photos. Think about that! That would be like going to Burger King and seeing the Burger King himself delivering royal proclamations to a tray of onion rings. Or, like going to a Sonic Drive-in and having Sonic The Hedgehog... deliver royal proclamations to a tray of onion rings.
The barbeque selections are smoked on the grounds and include ribs and chicken.
The unique thing is that it is served side by side with Chinese food.
One of the selections is "Abdullah's Favorite" which Dana mentioned. For just $7.49 you get a mix of miniature shrimp, beef strips, green peppers, baby corn, carrots and mushrooms sautéed in a sweet sauce and served with a side of fried rice.
Abdullah's has been open for over 10 years. As he did in the ring, he has surpassed many of his younger competitors. His restaurant has outlived the COMBINDED life spans of Hulk Hogan's Pastamania!, WCW's Nitro Grill and WWF New York.
Here is some footage of Abdullah in action in a particularly bloody match that involved a broken bottle:
Doesn't that make you want some ribs or Chinese food?
Ken: You what I used to like on PBS? Dana: What? Ken: Yan Can Cook. Dana: Oh yeah. Ken: Whatever happened to him? Dana: You what I could never figure out, why he was not brought into the fold of the food network. Ken: I thought I saw him make a couple of guest appearances. His was the most entertaining show. Dana: Yeah, but I couldn't figure out why he was never… Ken: But he was the most entertaining show on the network. Because Frugal Gourmet was just creepy. Dana: Well yeah. Ken: Legitimately so we came to find out. Dana: Yeah, not only is he a pedophile. But even the title of his show… "I'm snooty, I'm a gourmet and I'm f***ing cheap. I'm a cheapskate and I'm snooty. I'm elitist and cheap" Ken: "and I like kids" Dana: "so don't even ever want to know me"
Jeff Smith died in 2004. He was remembered as a "food genius" in his Seattle Times obituary. He was a prominent TV chef in the 1980s and 1990s as well as an author of several books.
And as Ken mentioned, he got into a bit of trouble at the end of his career.
Here is how Wikipedia explains it:
His public career came to an end when two of his male assistant chefs brought charges of sexual harassment against him, when they were teenagers. Shortly thereafter, in 1998, seven men alleged that he had sexually assaulted them in the 1970s, when they worked for him as minors. Smith denied the accusations but his alleged actions were the subject of much talk around the city of Tacoma for years. He was taken off the air shortly afterward. Though he was never charged with a crime, he and his insurance company settled with the plaintiffs out of court, and Smith never returned to the airwaves.
Here is a great clip of Smith from the old Late Night with David Letterman program (when Dave was at his best) that gives a good idea of the vibe Smith gave off on TV:
To follow Ken, Dana and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.
Post script: Hashtags can also be used to make common terms easier to search, like in this tweet from Dave Willis (with a link to an article about cocaine found at NASA). Take a look:
Ken has been travelling up and down the California coast and he must have stopped for some fries recently. Ken tweeted this:
The comment stirred up a bit of controversy. In-N-Out prides themselves on their fries:
I love the slogan "in and out, that's what a french fry is all about". It sums up the entire digestive process the fries take... but I wouldn't advertise it.
The burger chain was founded in 1948 by Harry and Esther Snyder.
SNYDER???
I wonder if they are related to Dana... let's look at a picture of them:
No. I don't see any relation.
Anyway, the burger chain prides themselves on having the freshest ingredients... or at least the brag about it.
They also have a very small menu. Here is what is listed on Wikipedia:
Hamburger, cheeseburger, and "Double-Double" (double meat/double cheese). French fries and fountain drinks are available, as well as three flavors of milkshakes.
Ahhh, the secret menu! Here is some info from the In-N-Out website:
The Twitter conversation about the In-N-Out fries continued with plenty of opinions (pro and con.)
To follow Dana, Ken and anyone else involved with The Ken P. D. Snydecast click here.
Pachinko is often described as a cross between a slot machine and a pinball machine... but really it's a unique game that is different than slots or pinballs.
The vintage pachinko is a machine where you shoot a small metal ball into a field of pins. Most balls will fall to the bottom but some will fall into small pockets where they will 'pay out' and you get more balls. When you finish you trade your pachinko balls in for prizes (stuff like tobacco and perfume... not stuffed animals and spider rings.)
Japanese law forbids gambling, so you cannot trade the balls for cash. However there are stores nearby the pachinko parlor that will give you cash for your prizes.
The bottom line is that eventually some machines are taken out of the pachinko parlor and end up in America for sale.
Dana and Ken were talking about the more modern pachinko machines. The modern machines have a large display in the center of the playing field that plays video clips and usually has a matching number goal (similar to a slot machine.)
Dana mentioned that many of the popular pachinko machines were based on American franchises like the Rocky Balboa pachinko:
The Robocop pachinko:
And the Popeye pachinko:
Dana talked about some of "super Japanese" pachinko machines that have a Japanese theme and seem extra weird to American audiences.
Below is a two minute video of the gameplay of Super Sea Story. In it you see turtles racing against fish. Then they all start dancing to steel drum music. Then a big breasted anime character swims up and the fish starts kissing her. Then more with the turtle... but then the fish starts kissing the anime character again. This fish is insatiable. Then a large whale swims onto the screen and just hovers in front of you.
The video also gives you a good idea of how bright, noisy and fun pachinko is.
I am sure you have heard of the passing of legendary actress Liz Taylor.
Here is a great clip from the classic game show "What's My Line" showcasing the Hollywood giant when she was promoting the film The Last Time I Saw Paris and, arguably, at her most gorgeous.
The clip also contains Bennett Cerf and we should all have more Bennett Cerf in our life.
The Producers has successfully finished it's run at the Riverside theatre. Folks arriving to the theater can no longer buy tickets to see Dana Snyder belt out "Little Old Lady Land".
But they can buy tickets to other shows.
Former Secretary of Homeland Security Michael Chertoff will be there on April 4th.
This guy:
I know, he looks like lots of fun, and I am sure his show will be great... but it's not Dana Snyder.
After Michael Chertoff, they will have a pretty awesome show about Buddy Holly... so Riverside Theatre remains a great place to go.
Ah, but what a time they had with ol' Snydley.
The Riverside theatre website still has great info about the show including Dana's bio:
Dana Snyder* / Max Dana Snyder is very excited to be making his Riverside debut in The Producers, one of his favorite shows. Other favorites include ART, Guys and Dolls, Tuna Christmas, and Charley's Aunt. He has performed in regional theatres around the country, including, Cincinnati Playhouse in the Park, Repertory Theatre of St. Louis, and The Cleveland Playhouse. He has appeared in various television shows including Brothers and Sisters, ER, and Gary Unmarried. On the comedy stage he recently concluded a 30-city tour as one of the two members of of the Aqua Teen Hunger Force Live Tour. He is best known to college-age audiences as the voice of Master Shake in the Adult Swim show Aqua Teen Hunger Force. Other cartoons he has voiced include Disney's Fishhooks, Nickelodeon's Penguins of Madagascar, Cartoon Network's Chowder, The Marvelous Misadventures of Flapjack, and Adult Swim's Squidbillies and The Venture Brothers. He has recently been writing and producing several webisodes for Adultswim.com/sipes. you can find out useless information about him on his website www.eyeofthesnyder.com. He sends his love to his beautiful wife, Christine, and to his wonderful friends and family, all of whom have helped make him who he is today, a big fat jerk, but in a good way. For clarification the copious amount of sweat pouring down his face happens to be a character choice! ACTING!
They also have some great pictures of the show:
They also have a gallery of great "behind the scenes" pics:
For those in Vero Beach, cheer up! The weather is nice and maybe Dana will return someday!
Also, according to Wikipedia, Aol founder Steve Case, Gloria Estefan, Mike Tyson, Sylvester Stallone, Florida State Representative Debbie Mayfield, The Rock, Teddy Roosevelt and Tommy Lee Jones have all lived there at some time or other.
1. How does Ken describe Julie Taymor? a. bat sh*t crazy b. a genius who is ahead of her time c. almost as sexy as Jeffry Tambor
2. Ken gives Dana 1 minute to tell the story of the Spider-man musical. Does he do it? a. yes b. no c. do what? I don't get the question.
3. Dana describes the Spider-man musical as "a ________ ___________" a. terrible mess b. fantastic show c. spider porn
4. Ken says the Harry Potter ride is "for kids just not _________" a. Dutch children b. fat kids c. Charlie Callas
5. How much did Dana say he paid for his Spider-man ticket? a. $100 b. $150 c. $1,000,000 - because that is how he rolls.
6. Dana and Ken did not talk about what Disney ride: a. Tower of Terror b. Expedition Everest c. Monsanto's House of the Future
7. When mentioning looking up Mary Poppins' skirt Dana says he saw up her supercalifragilisticexpialidocious. What does Ken call it? a. her Poppinhole b. her chim-chiminey c. her Tower of Terror
ANSWER KEY: 1. a. bat sh*t crazy 2. b. no 3. a. terrible mess 4. b. fat kids 5. a. $100 6. c. Monsanto's House of the Future 7. b. her chim-chiminey
Ken and Dana have often spoke of legendary comic talent Phil Silvers.
Below is a selection of some of the more interesting Phil Silvers videos on youtube.com.
This is a 5 minute video (followed by a 78 second commercial) of Phil Silvers and Jack Benny on the Dick Cavett Show.
Top Banana was a wonderful stage show turned motion picture. Phil Silvers was the star and this trailer shows the intention to release the film in 3D. The idea was that you would feel like you were actually watching a real stage show as you looked at the 3D actors.
Here is another trailer for the all star classic It's a Mad Mad Mad Mad World. Phil, and so many of his contemporaries, appear in the film. This trailer is a fun showcase of his comic timing.
One more trailer, this one is a goofy Disney film called The Boatniks. "It's a salami!"
If you haven't had enough Phil Silvers (and how could you!) you can see him on TCM TOMORROW at 10am in the 1954 Doris Day film Lucky Me.
Ken: You what I used to like on PBS?
Dana: What?
Ken: Yan Can Cook.
Dana: Oh yeah.
Ken: Whatever happened to him?
Dana: You what I could never figure out, why he was not brought into the fold of the food network.
Ken: I thought I saw him make a couple of guest appearances. His was the most entertaining show.
Dana: Yeah, but I couldn't figure out why he was never…
Ken: But he was the most entertaining show on the network. Because Frugal Gourmet was just creepy.
After a little sidebar about the Frugal Gourmet the conversation comes back around to Yan:
Ken: Yan Can Cook, though, was worth watching even if just for the knife work.
Dana: He has amazing knife skills.
Ken: That show I miss. Do they even repeat it anymore?
Dana: They do. Sometimes, I think.
Ken: I just love the fact that he was obviously just, without any self consciousness just showing off to the utmost degree.
Dana: Oh yeah.
Ken: Pure showman.
Dana: That's what I like about him.
Ken: And I liked how you always watched going surely he's going to cut off a finger.
Dana: never does.
Martin Yan has been entertaining TV audiences with his cooking shows since 1978 and is still going today.
According to his website he is also doing public demonstrations. He even has one scheduled TOMORROW in California:
Castro Valley Library
Saturday, March 19, 2011 - 2pm
3600 Norbridge Avenue
Castro Valley, CA 94546
Phone: (510) 667-7900
His most recent show was Martin Yan's China. Yan also owns an few Yan Can restaurants in California.
As for his knife skills... they are amazing!
Here is a vintage clip:
Here is a clip from last month at a library in California:
